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Global Newsletter August 2018 |
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Dear Friends and Supporters, This month our staff engaged with global road safety issues in a myriad of ways from addressing current road safety events to exchanging ideas with other international experts. As thousands of Bangladeshi teenagers filled the streets of Dhaka calling for government action to reduce road fatalities, our Thailand Chairperson connected with local media in Bangladesh to discuss the student protests and road safety advocacy on a global scale. Our China Country Manager and Vietnam Program Manager returned from Baltimore, Maryland – reinvigorated and ready to apply their newly acquired skills – after having attended the GRSP Global Road Safety Leadership Course. On a national level, our country teams have also been busy working on exciting initiatives and programs. Our Vietnam team held a training session for 200 students at Thuy Loi University in Hanoi, concluding a #3500LIVES Campaign to reduce deaths of people aged 15 to 29 in road crashes across Vietnam. Our Cambodia team kicked-off the first Road Safety Working Group session as part of the Transportation Safety pilot program in order to empower garment factory stakeholders to implement transportation initiatives for themselves. AIP Foundation Thailand also facilitated a Road Safety Watch Network workshop in order to integrate district-level road crash databases. With road safety receiving increased attention on the international stage, we look forward to harnessing this momentum to advocate for a safer road system locally and internationally. For more information on our activities, achievements, and related road safety news, please read on. Kind regards, Mirjam Sidik
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Table of Contents |
Global |
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Vietnam |
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Cambodia |
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Thailand |
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Employment Opportunities
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Global |
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Photo of the month-
Safe School, Safe Community reinforces road safety knowledge of fifth graders
Together with Wat Phraya Krai Police Station, the Road Accident Victims Protection Company Limited, and A.P. Honda Co., Ltd., AIP Foundation organized extra-curricular activities for 28 fifth graders at Wat Rachasingkorn School in Bangkok to help them refresh their road safety knowledge through games as part of the Safe School, Safe Community program. The program aims to increase helmet use among children, teachers, and parents to better protect them from head injury and raise public awareness of the importance of child quality helmet use. Safe School, Safe Community is supported by the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) and Rotary International. View photos from the activities here. Watch our Safe School, Safe Community highlight video here to learn more about program activities. |
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AIP Foundation Thailand Chairperson discusses road safety issues on Bangladeshi national television programs
In the week following the deaths of two students in Dhaka, Bangladesh who were killed by a bus driver racing to collect passengers, unprecedented student protests and international backlash were at the center of the country’s headlines. AIP Foundation Thailand Chairperson Ratana H. Winther was interviewed on two national television programs regarding these events, the global road safety crisis, and how the world, and specifically Bangladesh, can address the challenges. On 30 July, Ratana was interviewed on NTV’s “Frankly Speaking” where she discussed the recent tragic crash where hundreds were also injured and shared information about AIP Foundation programs and activities. Additionally, she also discussed the root causes of road traffic crashes and how the country could address them. She highlighted political will and safer system implementations as key factors toward making road safety improvements as demonstrated in some countries successfully tackling road traffic problems. On 8 August, Ratana was on “Light and Lens'” on UNB Channel where she was asked to comment on the unprecedented student protests in Dhaka demanding road safety measures and accountability from the government. Ratana emphasized the approach of shared responsibility and leadership of the government as ways of implementing road safety measures. They also discussed road safety problems on a global scale and those specifically relevant to Bangladesh. Watch the full “Frankly Speaking” interview here. Watch the full “Light and Lens” interview here. |
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AIP Foundation participates in fifth Global Road Safety Leadership Course
AIP Foundation's China Country Manager Xiaoyan Xu and Vietnam Program Manager Hong Bui attended the fifth Global Road Safety Leadership Course held in Baltimore, U.S.A. This program is co-organized by the Johns Hopkins International Injury Research Unit (JH-IIRU) and the Global Road Safety Partnership (GRSP) with support from the Bloomberg Philanthropies. Over two weeks, participants built leadership skills to design and advocate for effective road safety programs and policies. At the conclusion of the course, participants received certificates reflective of their newly acquired skills and knowledge, which they will take back to their countries to implement in their road safety initiatives. |
Vietnam |
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Related News: Campaign seeks to make roads safer for young people
SOURCE: Viet Nam News, 27 July 2018 "The Automobile Association Vietnam is carrying out a campaign in Hà Nội called #3500LIVES featuring training and public awareness initiatives focused on key “golden rules” for road safety to reduce deaths of people aged 15 to 29 in traffic accidents. During the month-long campaign ending on July 31, it has focused on training and communication about using a child safety seat, buckling up, not texting and driving, and wearing a helmet." Please read the full article here. |
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Automobile Association Vietnam supports
#3500LIVES campaign to reduce world road fatalities
On 23 July 2018, AIP Foundation and the Automobile Association Vietnam (AAV), with support from the Hanoi Traffic Safety Committee and student road safety ambassadors, organized a training session for 200 students at Thuy Loi University as part of the #3500LIVES campaign. The training session covered topics such as safe motorcycle driving skills, the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving, and the importance of helmet use. Every day, 3,500 people are killed on the world’s roads. Young people are particularly affected as road crashes are the number one cause of death of 15 to 29 year olds. To combat this alarming trend, the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) funded our project under the Road Safety Grants Programme to support the #3500LIVES campaign through trainings and public awareness initiatives focused on key “golden rules” for road safety. In particular, we are working on four focus areas: use a child safety seat, buckle up, don’t text and drive, and wear a helmet. The campaign is being implemented in Vietnam from 1 June to 31 July 2018. Previously, as part of the campaign, a training workshop for 200 parents on the use of child seats and car seatbelts was held on 25 June 2018 at the Hoang Mai Women's Union in Hanoi. The training provided parents with crucial knowledge about the safest way to travel with children in a car, as well as the need to wear a seatbelt. AAV has also installed twelve billboards to encourage people to follow the "golden rules". The billboards are installed at 12 public spaces around the city, where there is heavy traffic but clear visibility and easy accessibility for drivers. AAV is a member of The Federation Internationale d’Automobile (FIA). Please view more pictures from the training here. Read more about the #3500Lives campaign here. |
Cambodia |
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Transportation Safety Pilot Program Introduction to workers’ representatives at Kampong Chhnang Factory
Fourteen garment factory staff members attended the initial Road Safety Working Group (RSWG) meeting for discussions on the Cambodian Garment and Footwear Factory Workers Road Safety pilot project. Workers’ representatives from all sections of the factory including management, security, trade unions, workers, HR, health and counselling took part in the event. Attendees participated in brainstorming ideas on road safety risks and crash reporting as well as ways to improve the transportation safety at the factory. AIP Foundation staff presented an introduction to the pilot program with an emphasis on roles and responsibilities of the RSWG members within the factory. Please find photos from the training here. |
Thailand |
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Helmets for Kids donates 500 helmets to two Thai primary schools
As part of the Helmets for Kids road safety program in Thailand, 500 helmets will be donated to two primary schools where less than 4% of students currently wear helmets on their commute to school. Both schools are located in high-density traffic areas in the Mueang district of Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Within the last year alone, two students were reported as involved in road crashes traveling to or from school – but the actual number is likely much higher. Helmets for Kids is supported by Chevron Thailand Exploration & Production, Ltd., a long-term partner of AIP Foundation and key advocate for road safety interventions in the region. Over 400 teachers, students, and parents from the schools came together to celebrate the launch of the new program. Representatives from Chevron, the Road Accident Victims Protection Company Limited, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the Ministry of the Interior, and several provincial infrastructure- and health-related government agencies also attended the event, which was hosted at Muang district’s city hall. Mr. Sakol Chantharak, the Deputy Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat district, gave the opening speech at the program launch ceremony. In addition to handing over the helmets to students, AIP Foundation presented certificates to 22 teachers who recently completed the road safety curriculum training. Students also engaged in educational road safety activities, including themed games and performances. Through these activities, students learned how to properly wear their new helmets and about the importance of safe road behavior in a creative and stimulating way. Additionally, AIP Foundation held a Helmets for Kids stakeholder meeting at the Provincial Hall of Nakhon Si Thammarat province on 31 July 2018. Discussion of program activities as well as future collaborations between government agencies and AIP Foundation to nurture the culture of road safety in the province took place and concluded with the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between AIP Foundation and the two participating schools, Thesaban Tambon Tha Pair School and Rajaprajanugroh 4 School. Read the full press release here. View more photos from the launch event and stakeholder meeting here. |
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AIP Foundation facilitates at Road Safety Watch Network workshop
AIP Foundation recently joined more than 100 government road safety representatives from 16 districts of Songkhla province at a Road Safety Watch Network workshop organized by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Regional Center 12 Songkhla. The workshop, presided over by Acting Sub Lt. Trakul Totham, the director of the DDPM Regional Center 12 Songkhla, was supported by the Thai Health Promotion Foundation. The workshop aimed to integrate district-level road crash databases; identify black spots in each district of Songkhla; prepare crash investigation reports; and draw lessons learned from each district’s experiences on prevention and reduction of road crashes. At the two-day workshop, AIP Foundation's Thiratee Chaijaree, served as a group facilitator. View photos from the workshop here. |
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Highlights from the closing ceremony of More Untold Stories: Road Safety Journalism Fellowship 2018
Last week, AIP Foundation attended the closing ceremony of More Untold Stories: Road Safety Journalism Fellowship 2018 at the Bliston Suwan Park View hotel. At the ceremony, participants discussed and reviewed the collaboration between the Legal Development Program (LDP) and the fellowship since its launch in March this year. These joint efforts have, among others, led to improvement of school bus safety policy and standards in Thailand. More Untold Stories: Road Safety Journalism Fellowship 2018 is a collaboration between Internews and the World Health Organization (WHO). The Legal Development Program (LDP) is a collaboration between AIP Foundation Thailand and the WHO and aims to reduce road injuries and fatalities through legislative improvement. LDP and the journalism fellowship are supported by the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety (BIGRS). |
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