Dear friends and supporters, As the summer winds down we're gearing up for another year of in-school programming. With Helmets for Kids, Safe Kids Walk this Way, Walk Wise and next phases of our public awareness campaigns in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Uganda, this school year promises to be our busiest yet. And around the world, the issue of road safety is getting increased legislative action from governments including Thailand, Tanzania, and China thanks to the World Health Organization's recently released manual intended to help countries strengthen road safety legislation. Read on to find out more. Kind regards, Mirjam Sidik
1. Global
2. Vietnam
3. Cambodia
4. Thailand
5. China
6. Uganda
7. Tanzania
News UpdateWHO launches manual aimed at strengthening road safety legislation - On August 6, 2013 the World Health Organization (WHO) released Strengthening road safety legislation: a practice resource manual for countries, a report that describes methods and provides resources that practitioners and decision-makers can use for enacting new laws or amending existing ones as part of a comprehensive road safety strategy.
CDC partners awarded for program excellence in work with GHVI
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) have selected the CDC Global Road Safety Team in the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control) for the 2012 International Excellence in Program Delivery Award for the team's work with AIP Foundation's Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative (GHVI). CDC has been an important partner for AIP Foundation and GHVI in the area of surveillance and evaluation, building capacity in public health, and global networks supporting the Decade of Action. CDC's Global Road Safety Team began its partnership with AIP Foundation to expand and scale-up GHVI in Cambodia and Uganda in 2010. Through high-quality and mixed-method evaluation designs, the group ensures that GHVI activities in Cambodia and Uganda are driven by data and effectively delivered to the target audiences.
Knowledge-sharing workshop with Global Road Safety Partnership in Hanoi
A knowledge sharing session among Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) grantees was held on August 21 in Hanoi. Attendees included AIP Foundation, Vietnam Red Cross, and Vietnam Justice Support Association for the Poor (VIJUSAP). AIP Foundation presented its GRSP funded project of training courses for journalists and legislators on child helmet use, shared its experience with stakeholder engagement and project management, and provided feedback on the work plan of the newest grantee, VIJUSAP. Materials from AIP Foundation's project will be used by VIJUSAP in their project advocating for better child helmet use in ten provinces in the north of Vietnam. Leading helmet companies come together as the Vietnam Helmet Manufacturers Association
The steering committee of the Vietnam Helmet Manufacturers Association (VHMA), led by the Asia Injury Prevention (AIP) Foundation, held its first meeting on Wednesday, July 31 in Hanoi. VHMA's founding organizers, including AIP Foundation, Long Huei Vietnam Co., Ltd, HJC Helmets, Protec Vietnam, and MAT Group, aim to enhance the industry's collaboration with Vietnamese authorities and to improve helmet wearing compliance, standards, and quality nationwide. A recent study by the World Health Organization found that more than 80 percent of helmets on Vietnam's roads are below standard. In Vietnam, where 22,000 lives are lost each year to road traffic crashes, improving helmet quality can save countless lives. VHMA invited government bodies, such as the Traffic Police, the National Traffic Safety Committee, and QUATEST, as well as other helmet manufacturers to participate in the association. Read the press release here. Protec staff recognized with service certificates
On the morning of August 26, 2013, Greig Craft, General Director of Protec Tropical Helmets, held a ceremony to recognize Protec staff members who have been working with the company for 10 years. The annual event celebrates the Protec staff's tremendous contributions to the company, lengthy service, and loyalty. Established in 2001, Protec Tropical Helmets is a nonprofit project of Asia Injury Prevention Foundation. Over the years, Protec has grown to become the most prestigious helmet brand in Vietnam. Protec employs over 200 staff members around the country, working at the headquarters in Hanoi, helmet factory in Noi Bai Industrial Zone, and sales branches in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. Protec also recruits and trains physically disabled workers in order to help them integrate into their communities and lead productive lives. With a dynamic and professional working environment, Protec has created conditions to maximize its staff and workers' qualifications, professional advancement, and promotion in accordance with their capabilities. On behalf of the certificate receivers, Nguyen Hoang Thuy, Sales Admin Staff in the Southern branch said: "I would like to thank the Protec's Board of Management for its care and encouragement through meaningful and practical recognition. This motivates us to work harder and longer with the company." Public awareness campaign stakeholder workshop held in Hanoi
On August 13, a stakeholder meeting convened in Hanoi to evaluate phase 2 and plan for phase 3 of AIP Foundation's public awareness campaign "Children also need a helmet." More than thirty stakeholders participated in the workshop, including representatives from the National Traffic Safety Committee (NTSC), the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), provincial Department of Education and Training (DoET), Traffic Safety Committee (PTSC) and Traffic Police of Hanoi, Da Nang and HCMC. Discussion focused on evaluation of phase two activities and input and comments on plans for phase 3. In addition, stakeholders discussed the findings of training needs assessment that show the demand for increased capacity building for media and legislators around the issue of child helmet use. GlobalGiving launches interactive fundraising campaign
This September, GlobalGiving, an online fundraising platform, is hosting its first-ever fundraiser campaign designed to help harness the fundraising potential of supporters and their communities. Individuals can create their own fundraising pages and ask their friends, family, and co-workers to join them in supporting our "Give a Vietnamese child a helmet; save a life" project. The campaign includes prizes for individuals who set up fundraiser pages and a $3,500 bonus to the organization with the most successful fundraisers. Our project is almost half-way to reaching its fundraising goal of $20,500 and for this month only an anonymous donor has agreed to match monthly recurring donations. Click here to create your own fundraiser page to help "Give a Vietnamese child a helmet; save a life."
News UpdateMotodops provided helmets, safety lesson The National Road Safety Committee invited 600 motodops to the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Centre to receive quality helmets and instruction on the importance of helmet use on the road.
Travel Indochina learns about road safety in Cambodia
On July 2, 2013, AIP Foundation provided road safety training to 20 staff-members at Travel Indochina in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The training session covered tourist safety on the road, as well as road safety and helmet use in Cambodia. Participants learned about the importance of helmet use, global traffic fatalities statistics in all age groups, why tourists are at such a high risk of being involved in crashes, safe driving behavior, and pedestrian safety. Discussions also covered the differences in the traffic laws of Cambodia, Vietnam, and the United Kingdom. Primary school students celebrate the end of the school year with traffic safety games
Hun Sen Prek Russey, Kor Ki, and Sampov Meas primary schools in Kampong Speu, Kandal, and Phnom Penh organized extracurricular road safety activities as part of AIP Foundation's Helmets for Kids program. Nearly 600 students and teachers learned about the importance of wearing helmets correctly, how to cross the roads and walk safely, and other traffic safety topics through interactive games and contests. These activities aim to reinforce the lessons from earlier traffic safety training and continue the high helmet use rate into the next school year. Average helmet use rates across the schools, originally near zero, have increased to 80 percent. On July 15, more than 20 parents joined a workshop focused on the benefits of correct helmet use and on parents' roles in making sure that their children wear helmets every day and into the next school year. Training ended with the parents pledging put helmets on their children when they ride as passengers on motorcycles. Check out the photos! Focus groups gather university student opinions on new educational website
On July 30, AIP Foundation conducted a focus group discussion with students from four universities in Cambodia to gauge the youth attitude towards the new Safe Roads Cambosia website. Students shared their diverse perspectives and suggested revisions to the site. Many student comments focused on headers, navigation, social media, and publicity. The new site will take advantage of the ubiquity of information technology in everyday life to provide a broad audience with important road safety facts. This information is supplemented by interactive elements such as monthly quizzes and online games. Accounts from survivors and messages from parents put a human face on the statistics, while encouraging users to join the conversation by submitting their own stories. The website has social media integration, and will feature regular petitions, contests and giveaways to maintain interest and encourage participation. In late August 2013, AIP Foundation will hold at least two more student focus groups with this age group. These meetings will be followed by similar consultation with NGOs and other stakeholders in early September. The website launch is planned for September 9, 2013. AIP Foundation joined first Danish Seminar
On August 23, 2013, Go4 Bunker Denmark joined companies from Denmark and Cambodia for a seminar to facilitate maritime and oil & gas business partnerships between the two nations held at Sunway Hotel. Go4 Bunker has done work in Cambodia as a sponsor of AIP Foundation's Helmets for Kids, donating helmets to students in Takeo province in 2012-2013. HE Mikael Hemniti Winther, the Danish Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar and other VIP guests visited AIP Foundation's booth where t-shirts, helmets, stickers, and posters were exhibited.
News UpdateRoad safety becomes a major concern for Tourism Authority of Thailand – A recent survey that polled 800 tourists, service providers, and officials found that 64.5 percent of tourist drivers did not have international driving licenses and 58 percent reported that they do not wear helmets. A recent spate of accidents in the Kingdom has brought the issue of traveler safety to the fore.
Solvay puts helmets on children in Rayong Province
This month, Siam Solvay Foundation donated 238 helmets to students and teachers at Wat Prachum Mitr Bumrung School in Rayong Province. The donation launched Solvay's Helmets for Kids partnership with AIP Foundation. "We're delighted to be a part of AIP Foundation's Helmets for Kids program to decrease the accident rate among children in Thailand," said Siriporn Wutthilaohaphan, the Chairwoman of Siam Solvay Foundation. "Banchang is our home, and the children here are our future. We must protect their potential." Prachum Mitr is one of 14 small communities in Banchang, Rayong Province, located on a side road not far from a four-lane highway in an industrial area leaving students at risk during their commute due to low visibility of their side road and, without helmets, unprotected.
News UpdateChina launches campaign against reckless driving – On August 16, China's Ministry of Public Security launched a road safety campaign to promote safer driving. On the campaign's first day, police around the country stopped 13,782 cases relating to overloading and 2,196 drivers for tiredness while driving, the ministry said.
Educators trained to teach road safety in Chengdu
A training workshop was held in Chengdu to train educators and authorities on how to teach road safety to students in the project area. Attendees included teachers, representatives of the Education Department of Kai County, Kai County Police, and AIP Foundation staff and volunteers. The training covered the importance of providing road safety education and practical exercises, as well as ways to engage parents and communities. On the last day of the workshop the eight selected master trainers conducted a teachers training to practice their new skills. The leader of the master trainers training workshop Linda Ivett said,"Working with these talented and dedicated people has been one of the highlights of my career and I am very grateful to have had this opportunity. Check out the photos!
News UpdateMotorbike deaths: concerns grow over silent killers -- Accidents involving Uganda's ubiquitous boda-boda motorbikes are maiming and killing thousands every year and straining the country's limited health budget. The Global Helmet Vaccine Initiative is holding a one-day workshop for 100 riders, part of a national scheme under which it has trained 1,800 boda-boda riders in basic road safety.
AIP Foundation awarded grant from CrossRoads Challenge Fund
The CrossRoads Programme selected the AIP Foundation as one of four winning projects to secure funding for Creating Opportunities for Sustainable Spending on Roads in Uganda. CrossRoads is funded by the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) and the European Union (EU), and run by IMC Worldwide and Practical Action Consulting. The £1 million (USD 1.969 million) grant fund was designed to drive innovation in the Ugandan road construction and maintenance sector. AIP Foundation secured funding for its plans to encourage and enforce helmet use among boda boda riders and passengers. Taking place in Kampala's five districts over the course of 15 months beginning in August 2013, this project will aim to increase helmet usage to 60 percent in the general population of boda boda operators. Research and campaigning for these projects will begin immediately and outcomes will be published in one year. For more information, visit the CrossRoads website. Focus group gathers positive feedback from boda boda safety trainers who received AIP Foundation training
A post-Train-the-Trainer focus group discussion was held on July 30, 2013 in Kampala to gather feedback from boda boda operators who received training in March from the Uganda Helmet Vaccine Initiative (UHVI) to lead road safety workshops. Discussions aimed to follow up on progress made with the training program, share experiences, address challenges faced, and gather ideas for the sustainability of the workshops. Participants reported that the program had been very beneficial to them in terms of adding to their knowledge, improving their practice on the road, and elevating their status in the boda boda association. One attendee from Kampala Central Division said, "Ever since we were trained by [UHVI], I benefited as a person because there are many things I did not know like helmet use, defensive riding and first aid. This changed my life a lot and also changed the way I was riding."
News UpdateTBS Plans Standard Highway Speed Bumps – The Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) has designed national standards governing speed bumps in response to habitual violation of road safety and traffic regulations.
AIP Foundation and TPS joint exhibit shown at Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair
AIP Foundation exhibited its plan with Tanzania Prison Service at the 37th Dar es Salaam International Trade Fair. Along with goods produced by TPS, the exhibit displayed the joint plan for establishing a helmet assembly plant in Tanzania. Chief Justice and other political leaders stopped by along with many people of Tanzania who were buzzing with excitement over the plan. |
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