Global Disaster Reduction and Relief

In early July, as Taiwan entered typhoon season, families gathered at Haipu Elementary School in Kaohsiung to ask: Is our home ready for the next storm?

At a community preparedness carnival, residents explored games themed around emergency kits, household safety maps, evacuation, and local disaster risks. Acting as the game masters were twenty-four children who had joined The Mustard Seed Mission’s workshop, sharing what they had learned through games and demonstrations.

Among them was six-year-old Lele, who reminded visitors that an emergency kit should include drinking water, a flashlight, and regular medication.

From Fear to Readiness

When Typhoon Danas struck the previous year, water entered Lele’s home quickly. She remembers feeling afraid as her family used whatever they had available. Her mother even used Lele’s diapers to absorb the floodwater. After six months of workshops, Lele is sharing what she has in her emergency kit.

“Now that my emergency kit is prepared, I won’t be as afraid when another typhoon comes,” she said.

After Typhoon Danas, MSM completed repairs for 15 vulnerable households. But restoring homes is only one part of recovery. Through the workshops, children learned about emergency supplies, identifying local risks, what to do during an evacuation, how to find shelters, and household safety maps. And at the carnival, those lessons were reaching the wider community.

Preparedness Built Over Time

The carnival was organized by the Wenxian Community Development Association, which has participated in MSM-supported preparedness work since 2019.

With continued training and guidance from experienced MSM practitioners, the community strengthened its ability to prepare, respond, and care for residents after disasters. The carnival reflected that progress with residents creating their own opportunity to refresh practical knowledge before another emergency.

Help More Communities Prepare

The carnival showed how the different parts of MSM’s disaster response approach work together: repairing damaged homes, helping families regain stability, teaching practical preparedness, and strengthening communities before the next storm.

Your support helps create more communities like this. It allows MSM to provide emergency assistance, repair homes, deliver preparedness education, and equip local communities with the knowledge and resources they need before, during, and after disasters.

Support the Global Disaster Reduction and Relief project and help more families face the next emergency with greater safety and readiness.

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