Community Impact Study of International Youth Preparedness Program – The Pillowcase Project

The Pillowcase Project is a school-based disaster preparedness education program first implemented in the wake of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 by American Red Cross volunteers in Louisiana, before being rolled out in 7 countries across the world. Originally designed for children aged 8 to 11 (grades 3–5), it provides key preparedness messages combining coping skill exercises, a textbook and a pillowcase (used as a grab bag).

This Impact Study examines two applications – in Mexico and Australia – to identify how successful the program has been in enhancing children’s preparedness and in fostering communication between students and their households, teachers and peers. Though the two contexts are different, the Impact Study aimed to identify commonalities in the way the program was received, while also highlighting some of the specific findings, recommendations and opportunities for cross-learning.

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