Unhas strengthens financial disaster risk literacy in Selayar

Makassar (ANTARA) - The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) increased knowledge of disaster financial risk literacy among dozens of students in Selayar District, South Sulawesi, on Saturday (July 4).

Head of the FMIPA Unhas teaching team, Saaduddin, stated that the activity is the first step in building a culture of risk literacy among the younger generation, especially in island regions that are highly vulnerable to various disaster threats.

"We hope that through this activity, students can become agents of change who spread a culture of preparedness to their families and communities," he said.

According to Saaduddin, the younger generation needs to be equipped with a comprehensive understanding of disaster risks, including financial resilience, as preparedness extends beyond evacuation knowledge, which also plans for long-term risk reduction.

Illuminata Wynnie, one of the speakers at the event, explained that disaster preparedness is not only related to physical readiness and evacuation knowledge, but also financial readiness, which is often overlooked by the public.

She said that risk literacy is a person's ability to understand potential risks, estimate their impact, and make appropriate decisions to reduce losses.

She explained that this concept aligns with risk management theory, which emphasizes that risk cannot be eliminated but can be managed through planning, risk sharing, and establishing reserve funds before a disaster occurs.

The approach also aligns with the concept of financial literacy, which encourages people to make rational financial decisions based on potential risks.

In this activity, high school students in Selayar as participants took part in a simulation of calculating village emergency funds as a form of case-based learning.

Through the simulation, students were encouraged to calculate emergency fund requirements based on historical disaster data, determine a fair contribution rate for the community, and understand the operational costs required to manage collective funds.

A participant named Apriyani Dwi Cakra said she gained new insights into the importance of financial preparedness in the face of disasters to help them recover more quickly after they occur.

"This activity was very beneficial. We learned that in addition to knowing how to save themselves during a disaster, people also need to prepare their finances, especially those living in disaster-prone areas," she said.

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Translator: Nur Suhra Wardyah, Cindy Frishanti Octavia

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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