Spontaneous student volunteers were an unexpected force in the Christchurch earthquakes. Organised through Facebook, coordinated by students and supported by an entire nation – the Student Volunteer Army has changed the way New Zealand views Generation-Y. Responsibility for disaster response was shared in Christchurch with grassroots organisations, flexible partnerships with authorities and corporate support. The student response created a movement that is now working internationally to mobilise young people to take local action on disaster risk preparedness.

The methodology used in preparedness, response and recovery by the students is straightforward – patterns of communication that enable different generations, systems and processes to speak the same language and cross-pollinate their experience. They motivate and re-motivate children and young people seeing them as our most resilient and able, not most vulnerable, group.

Leadership, determination, teamwork and careful late night planning was the key to mobilizing over 11,000 volunteers, sharing experience in Japan and in New York and starting a network of volunteer clubs throughout New Zealand. With disaster risk being the single biggest crosscutting issue facing the world, we are ready to be involved and want to step up to the challenge together!