Building strong communities based on shared values is essential for tackling urgent issues like disaster response, climate action, and access to water. It drives societal change by fostering accountability and active citizenship. Moreover, it boosts political involvement, strengthens social ties, stimulates economic development, expands educational prospects, provides family assistance, and enhances communal connections.
Active community participation offers numerous advantages. For example, engaging in initiatives like knowledge sharing and collaboration fosters belonging, enhancing mental well-being, empathy, and resilience. A survey found that 61% of respondents experiencing a strong sense of belonging through community engagement have excellent mental health. Additionally, involvement in the community cultivates skills, promoting personal and professional growth and empowerment for independent living. Entrepreneurs are more likely to succeed when actively participating in communities and networks that foster entrepreneurial learning and business opportunities.
SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub: A One-Stop Platform to Tackle Disaster Risk Reduction
SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub is a pioneering initiative poised to redefine Disaster Tech (D-Tech) through the fusion of technology, innovation, and community collaboration. At its essence, the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub transcends the conventional notion of a mere platform; it represents a ground-breaking endeavour. It stands as the world’s first universally accessible space where stakeholders in the disaster tech sphere converge. From emerging start-ups to established entities, from investors to policymakers, this hub serves as a centralised nexus for sharing expertise, pooling resources, and fostering concerted efforts toward a singular objective: building a more resilient world for the future.
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The SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub was among various initiatives initiated by the Prudence Foundation, in partnership with e27, the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) and Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Introducing SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub through the Virtual Launch
The virtual launch of the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub, taking place on March 26 via Zoom, was an enlightening event, uniting stakeholders dedicated to advancing disaster resilience. The event brought together individuals, start-ups, experts, and organisations to exchange ideas and forge partnerships for a safer world. Emphasising collaboration, the event showcased community-driven innovation in disaster response, featuring reputable speakers including Diana Guzman from Prudence Foundation, Sanjay Srivastava delivering the keynote address on behalf of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), Jaron Lim from Wateroam, Josh Kao from LivingWater Systems, Anthony Chua from StratifiCare, among others.
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Through knowledge-sharing and cooperation, the hub empowered stakeholders to leverage collective expertise and resources for sustainable solutions. A key feature of the event was the panel discussion “Leadership in Disaster Tech,” where speakers offered insights on how technology and partnerships can combat natural disasters effectively, urging start-ups, organisations, and investors to lead the charge in fostering resilience.
Key Takeaways from the Virtual Launch
In the keynote presentation, Sanjay Srivastava highlighted that in an era characterised by escalating disaster emergencies, societies struggle with increasingly complex risks that pose multifaceted challenges to people, cities, infrastructure, and ecosystems. Moreover, risk amplifiers such as climate change, rapid urbanisation, and residual vulnerabilities exacerbate the severity of these threats. For instance, research pointed out that a 1.50C increase in average global temperature would place 85% of the global population at risk, and cause an annual loss of up to $953 billion.
However, amid these challenges, there exist significant opportunities to build resilience. “Technological innovations are rapidly transforming the landscape, offering new solutions and avenues for mitigating risks. Moreover, the convergence of technology and data ecosystems presents opportunities for harnessing vast amounts of data through cloud computing and big data. Furthermore, the democratisation of platforms allows for the scaling of technology and data platforms, facilitating policy reforms and empowering diverse stakeholders to contribute to resilience-building efforts,” expressed Sanjay Srivastava.
In fact, participating speakers also shared their insights and innovative solutions to leverage the opportunities to mitigate rising obstacles. For example, Jaron Lim from Wateroam shared about how its easy-to-use and portable water filters help to provide safe drinking water in rural and disaster-stricken areas. Teaming up with humanitarian organisations like the Red Cross and World Vision, the company has supplied safe water to 100,000 people in 38 countries. “For our journey, collaboration, the generous financial support and networking opportunities offered by Prudence, e27, and more are critical, empowering us to reach our goals and serve the community. We are very grateful, and we would also want to invite everyone to join us in the Community Hub space to tackle the world’s water crises head-on together,” commented Jaron Lim.
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Similarly, Anthony Chua emphasised how Stratificare tackled a vital issue in Dengue disease management: predicting progression from mild to severe dengue. “Thanks to networking opportunities with leading physicians and industry advisors through initiatives such as the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub, Stratificare succeeded in inventing the world’s first patented dengue prognostic test to save more lives,“ shared Anthony Chua.
As announced during the virtual launch, participants joining the hub can also enjoy various perks such as networking opportunities for all stakeholders in the D-Tech space and providing access to valuable resources such as training, mentorship, funding, and the SAFE STEPS D-Tech Awards.
By joining the community, participants in the D-Tech space can help to create lasting solutions and partnerships that safeguard communities and contribute to a more resilient world for the people of the future.
After the virtual launch
Ever since the launch of the hub, the following startups joined the community as part of their commitment to help sustain our planet: Wateroam, LivingWaters Systems, StratifiCare, Solnovation Analytics Sdn Bhd Malaysia, DayZero Water, SI Analytics, Usher Technologies, H3 Dynamics, Kinetic Analysis Corporation, QUICKBLOCK, and Kacific Broadband Satellites among others.
A number of partners also became members of the community to contribute their work as well to global disaster resilience: International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC), Amazon Web Services (AWS), ALSiSAR IMPACT, Stimson Center, iCube Innovation, Ideaspace & QBO, Plan International, Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN), and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF) among others.
If you’d like to know more and be part of the growing SAFE STEPS D-Tech Community Hub, be sure to visit www.safestepsdtech.com.
The post D-Tech Community Hub: Safeguarding communities through collaboration appeared first on e27.