Junior Champions for Avoidable Deaths
By Mr Arkoneil Ghosh, Miss Anushka Konar, and Miss Prarthona Datta
This year, ADN released two volumes of the ADN Junior Champion Magazine (ISSN 2759-0380), a testament to the growing strength of youth engagement and creative collaboration across regions.
On March 13, 2025, the third volume of the magazine focusing on children and young people’s experiences of disasters in Malawi was published. The volume highlighted how young individuals navigate the emotional, social, and educational challenges posed by climate-induced disruptions, turning their lived experiences into voices of awareness, courage, and change amid recurrent floods and other climate-related hazards. The articles were written with contributions from partner schools and DRR practitioners. Their experiences of natural disasters can enhance readers’ understanding of the broader impacts of climate-related issues beyond their local areas, ultimately raising global awareness of children affected by disasters.
The launch of Volume 3 coincided with the International Awareness Day for Avoidable Deaths (IAD4AD), a global campaign that highlights the urgency of addressing vulnerabilities that lead to disaster-related fatalities. It fostered meaningful engagement and appreciation from participants. Attendees emphasised the importance of providing children and youth with a platform to share their experiences and reflections on disasters. Many admired the collaborative effort behind the publication and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to learn from the stories shared by young people in Malawi. Participants also recognised the importance of amplifying these voices to raise global awareness and empathy surrounding the impacts of climate change. The event attracted 15 registered participants, indicating a growing interest in youth-led disaster risk reduction.
As of October 31, 2025, the issue had been downloaded 13 times, demonstrating ongoing readership and international outreach beyond the initial launch.
The 4th Volume of the magazine was released on October 13, 2025 to mark the United Nations International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR), and focused on earthquake resilience among schoolchildren in Taiwan. Aligning with the 2025 IDDRR theme, “Fund Resilience, Not Disasters,” this volume emphasises how early education, preparedness, and community participation can significantly reduce disaster risks and losses.
The editorial process for this issue was an inspiring collaboration between the Junior Champion team and the guest editor, Dr Yitzu Lin (Department of Civil Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Taiwan). Dr Lin coordinated with participating schools, guided the collection of student reflections, and offered technical insights on disaster risk reduction. The outcome is a volume that combines scientific awareness with the genuine voices of children, making it both informative and heartfelt.
The online release event held on October 13, 2025, featured remarks from ADN leadership, reflections by contributors, and discussions on the role of schools in fostering a culture of resilience. The event attracted 60 registered participants and received highly positive feedback from attendees. Participants praised the session for its engaging discussions, practical insights, and the opportunity to connect with a broader network of resilience practitioners and educators. Several noted that the event deepened their understanding of how young people can actively contribute to earthquake preparedness and community resilience. Poll results collected during the session showed a significant increase in participants’ confidence regarding the relevance of the topics presented. Before the event, only 41% of respondents felt “very confident” about the session’s subject matter, whereas 71% reported feeling “very confident” afterwards. Additionally, the data indicated that 59% of attendees had limited prior knowledge of the topics, highlighting the event’s effectiveness in raising awareness and understanding. As of October 31, 2025, Volume 4 has been viewed by 51 active users through the ADN website and downloaded nine times, indicating growing interest in youth-focused disaster resilience education.
A follow-up session held on November 12, 2025, a month later, provided Mandarin-speaking participants in Taiwan with an opportunity to engage more deeply with the magazine’s content. Organised by the Feichang DRR Reading Club and supported by the ADN Taiwan network, the session attracted 40 attendees who discussed the lessons and experiences shared by children featured in the magazine. Participants emphasised the importance of connecting global disaster education efforts with local contexts, noting that the children’s reflections demonstrated not only knowledge but also meaningful understanding and practical application in daily life.
As of November 20, 2025, over 150 readers have visited the magazine’s website, and 50% are from Taiwan.
We sincerely thank our guest editors and all the young authors whose contributions are vital to this issue. The ADN Junior Champion Magazine continues to grow as a global platform for young voices and collaborative learning. With each volume, we move closer to creating a world where resilience is not just a reaction but a way of life.
You can read all volumes of the ADN Junior Champion Magazine here: ADN Junior Champion Magazine (ISSN 2759-0380) | Avoidable Deaths Network