KIDSASTER
KIDSASTER is a Surabaya-born initiative from October 2015 that teaches disaster literacy through storytelling and short-film production. The project is led by Fauzan Abdillah of INFIS together with Indonesia’s HANDs! alumni under The Japan Foundation Asia Center. It turns local risk issues into learning experiences and youth-made films.
Why KIDSASTER?
Indonesia is prone to floods, landslides, earthquakes, fires, strong winds, and even pandemics. Children and adolescents need learning languages that relate to everyday life. Films and stories make complex topics understandable, engage emotions, and build collective memories across generations.
What We Do ?
• Movietelling workshop for students and teachers.
• Production of short films on disaster themes from the perspective of residents.
• Simple simulation of preparedness before, during, and after a disaster.
• Group viewing sessions and discussions on mitigation actions in schools and communities.
Learning Values
• Practical knowledge of prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
• Creative skills: writing scripts, taking pictures, editing, retelling.
• Social empathy and cross-disciplinary collaboration through team projects.
Roots and Networks
KIDSASTER grew out of the INFIS ecosystem in Surabaya, which operates in film distribution, exhibition, and education, and from the HANDs! Project network, which trained 100 fellows from nine Asian countries in disaster education innovation from 2014–2017.
Targeted Impact
• Disaster risk literacy increases among children, teachers, and parents.
• Increasing educational short films based on local wisdom.
• Formation of young preparedness ambassadors in schools and communities.
Who Can Join
• Primary and secondary schools.
• Youth communities and youth organizations.
• Regional education office and BPBD.
• NGOs and philanthropic institutions.
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Program Package
• KIDSASTER Two-day workshop: introduction to disaster, story lab, mini production, screening, school action plan.
• KIDSASTER Movieteller intensive: one to three months of mentoring on disaster-themed film production based on local data.
• KIDSASTER Screening and Discussion: film curation, facilitation guide, and simple action toolkit.
Support Partners
The program began with a collaboration between alumni of the HANDs! Project in Indonesia Batch 1 and INFIS Surabaya. We are opening cross-sector partnerships for replication in other cities and districts.
How to Get Started
Contact the INFIS team for program presentations, workshop scheduling, or regional collaborations. Information about activities and community groups is available on the INFIS Facebook page and group.