We welcomed in Lisbon, for the RAIN project’s LTTA, our partners from Turkey (AFAD, AFAM and the Haymana District Directorate of National Education) and from Italy (CBM and Svevia). It was an intense week of learning and exchanging experiences, during which we were in direct contact with key institutions involved in the prevention and management of natural risks.
The first day was dedicated to a team meeting to review the project’s objectives and define strategies for the upcoming events. In the afternoon, we visited IPMA to learn about the institute’s work in monitoring meteorological and geophysical phenomena, gaining a deeper understanding of the importance of science and continuous observation in reducing the impact of extreme weather events and protecting communities.
The following day, the focus shifted to the human response to emergencies. The visit to the Portuguese Red Cross showed how its volunteer network operates and how teams are quickly mobilized in times of crisis. It became clear that volunteering and close ties with local communities are essential to ensuring effective assistance and strengthening resilience in disaster scenarios.
Wednesday began with a visit to the Instituto Dom Luiz, at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon, where the group explored the seismology laboratory and the outreach room. The goal was to better understand the dynamics of earthquakes and the educational initiatives that bring the public closer to science. In the afternoon, we visited QUAKE, an interactive museum that uses the 1755 Lisbon earthquake to raise awareness about the impact of seismic events and to teach visitors important safety behaviours and prevention knowledge.
On the final day, at the Jovem Cascais venue, the team met with Civil Protection to learn more about the work carried out at the municipal level in preparing for and responding to natural disasters. The discussion focused especially on action plans in the event of a tsunami, a relevant risk for the coastal region where the municipality is located.
Throughout the week, the RAIN project’s LTTA was an enriching experience that brought together science, volunteering, prevention, and action. The activities helped deepen the understanding of natural hazards and strengthened the skills needed to face future challenges with responsibility and teamwork.
