A LOCAL children's education program, created following the 2019-20 summer bushfires, is about to be trialled in 10 schools across SA, but it also has sights set on the national curriculum and even internationally.
Bushfire Kids Connect is the brainchild of nine-year-old Sebastian Ascott and his mother Carly, who live at Woodside.
While their own house was impacted by the devastating bushfires, yet saved by the Country Fire Service, Sebastian also witnessed family and friends struggle through the event, with some losing everything.
"We saw these kids lose their entire sense of normality," Carly said.
"The bushfires occurred six days before Christmas, which was hard enough, but then COVID-19 hit 12 weeks later, and families became isolated.
"Sebastian and I started talking about 'what could we do?' and he said 'I just want to create fun' and we started figuring out how to make that happen."
Carly guided Sebastian through creating Bushfire Kids Connect, which aimed to inject fun into the lives of kids as a means of coping with the trauma associated with bushfires.
"We started connecting with members of the community and we got a lot of support from the Adelaide Hills Council and the Australian Red Cross, who have helped us to extend the program beyond just the Adelaide Hills and will hopefully expand the program across Australia," Carly said.
Initial BKC events included a BMX jam, movie days and excursions to Bounce.
The group was also active in helping families during the pandemic, especially through lockdowns, by pointing parents to helpful resources on the BKC Facebook page and delivering treats from Teresa Langmead, owner of She Baked.
Knowledge is power and to help these children recover and move into a resilient space, we need to empower them with knowledge.
- CARLY ASCOTT
Carly said it was during this time they recognised how unaware families, and their children, were when it came to bushfire knowledge and preparedness.
"Knowledge is power and to help these children recover and move into a resilient space, we need to empower them with knowledge," she said.
"There are children that get triggered by the smell of a burn off, or panic on an extreme weather day, or get anxious in the lead up to the bushfire season.
"We felt this needed addressing, and that's when the educational program idea came about, one that still revolved around fun, which the children helped to design."
The 3D STEM program aims to educate children on how to prepare for bushfires, their causes and their connection to the environment, which includes Indigenous land management.
"I think once kids learn about how and why fires occur, it makes the prospect a little less scary," she said.
"We also have a child psychologist on board, who has helped ensure the program isn't a trigger for children, but also gives advice about wellness and managing fear."
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Carly said they finished filming the program last month, with Sebastian helping to deliver the content, and were planning a trial roll-out to 10 schools across the Adelaide Hills, Yorke Peninsula and the city.
"We wanted our program to reach children not just in bushfire-prone regions, but also children that may witness bushfires in the media so they can be understanding and empathetic towards regional school children that do experience this," she said.
"We are also super keen to get a Kangaroo Island school involved in the initial stages of the program."
Once the trial phase has been conducted, Carly said they planned to roll the program out nationally.
"Whatever we can do to get the word out there, and reach children in bushfire-affected and prone communities, some families have done it really tough," she said.
"We are still hearing of children that aren't coping, and it's been nearly two years since the fires.
"Many are anxious about the upcoming bushfires season, so that's why we are really keen to roll this program out prior to that."
SEBASTIAN GIVEN SPECIAL AWARD FOR CHARITY EFFORTS
BUSHFIRE Kids Connect founder Sebastian Ascott, 9, was named the 2021 Young Citizen of the Year by the Adelaide Hills Council for his efforts to unite the community.
Adelaide Hills mayor Jan-Claire Wisdom, at the January award ceremony, said that with the support of his mother Carly, Sebastian had run events that encouraged creativity, recreation, and building resilience.
"Sebastian's home was saved by the CFS, but some of his neighbours and friends were not as fortunate, so Bushfire Kids Connect was his way of showing support to those children," she said.
"He is now working with the Red Cross to develop a similar program that can be rolled out nationwide and connect children from our community with those in other fire-affected states.
"He truly is a remarkable young man that we're privileged to have in our district."
In its first 12 months, Bushfire Kids Connect has organised events that not only encouraged kids to have fun and make friends, but also provided opportunities for their parents to connect.
"We have seen beautiful friendships grow," Carly said.
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