The 8.8 Richter earthquake and subsequent tsunami that occurred in 2010 in Central-Southern Chile, not only proved the force of nature, but also the need for more information in order to handle these disasters. These skills needed to be developed, and UNESCO was there to help.

The morning of February 27, 2010, will not be forgotten in Chile. At 3:34 am millions of Chileans in the Central and Southern regions experienced an earthquake that was stronger than any felt for decades, and a destructive tsunami affected towns, ports and beaches along at least 500 kilometres of coastline. More than 500 people died or disappeared in both catastrophes, events which left hundreds wounded.

Months of reconstruction and evaluation made it clear that there was a need for educational materials, preparation strategies, prevention and training for these events. Chileans were vulnerable, and in a country with more than 4,000 kilometres of coastline, knowing how to react is the difference between life and death.

Given its coverage and quality, this educational strategy has been considered a model for other countries. The initiative won the “DIPECHO Contest on Experiences and Best Practices”, under the category of replicability, and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) translated the texts into English to be used by its education experts.

Although this prize is important, the greatest recognition is the ability to save lives. “These efforts take on importance when looking at their results throughout the community. In the regions of Arica-Parinacota, Antofagasta and Tarapacá, which were affected by an earthquake on April 1, 2014 in the north of Chile, preventative information has permeated the entire society, and it is of vital use when these phenomena occur”, highlighted Astrid Hollander, specialist from the programme on education for sustainable development, vocational and professional education and education on emergency situations of UNESCO Santiago.