DEPO intern Christy Wittkamp had the opportunity to visit Navamindradhiraj University in Bangkok, Thailand, on August 18–19, where she met with Dr. Keerati Sripramai, head of the Disaster Management Program. The visit provided insight into the important work being carried out at the university.

The Fire and Rescue Station, located next to the university, plays a central role in hands-on learning for students. During her tour, Christy met the Fire Chief, explored the fire trucks, and even boarded one of the water rescue vessels used in emergency operations.

Coinciding with her visit, a capacity development training for Bangkok’s capillary workers on occupational safety and disaster response was being held at the Royal River Hotel nearby. Christy joined in some of the First Aid demonstrations and had the chance to speak with participants about their experience in the training. 

One of Christy’s biggest takeaways was how valuable it is to bring people from different sectors – firefighters, district officers, paramedics, and more – together in the same room. Participants were divided into six groups, with each group assigned a neighborhood to develop a joint disaster preparedness action plan. This kind of training not only builds practical skills, but also builds coordination and communication across professions. Seeing this cross-sector collaboration in action was inspiring! 

Back at the university, Christy participated in a class session with Disaster Management students, where they exchanged questions about each other’s lives and studies. She also introduced DEPO by sharing its website and explaining the organization’s work in disaster education. The students expressed interest in learning more about localized gamification. 

Overall, the visit served as an opportunity for cross-cultural exchange in the field of DRR, providing insights into initiatives currently being implemented in Thailand. Upon returning to Nepal, Christy shared her experiences and newly acquired knowledge with the DEPO team, offering inspiration and potential ideas to be incorporated into future work.