What is Safety Day?
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
Three times a year, LP4Y centers pa
use their regular program for a day dedicated entirely to safety. It's a simple idea with a serious purpose: give Youths and Catalysts the knowledge and reflexes to protect themselves, each other, and the spaces they share every day. On July 28, that mission took on a new dimension: centers across eight countries came together online for a session focused on preparing for natural disasters, coordinated in partnership with Veolia Foundation.
One Session, Eight Countries
From Egypt to the Philippines, by way of Lebanon, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Indonesia, Youths and Catalysts logged on together for an interactive global safety session. It was the second edition of this partnership between LP4Y and Fondation Veolia, and it built directly on the lessons of the first: this time, the session was more dynamic, more focused, and more collaborative, with country-specific guidance tailored to the real conditions each center faces.
Leading the session for Fondation Veolia, alongside colleagues Luc Zeller and Sebastien Viallet, one team member described the experience as a genuine exchange rather than a one-way lesson:
"Exchanging real-world experiences with young emerging generation from these diverse communities was inspiring. Empowering youth through practical knowledge and risk awareness remains an essential priority for us."
That exchange, they noted, is exactly the point: building resilience isn't something you can teach from a script. It has to be practical, interactive, and rooted in the specific risks each community actually faces:
"The highly interactive dialogue allowed us to share field-tested expertise with young delegates across multiple regions. Fostering open communication and practical skill-building with youth is vital for building resilient communities."
The Veolia Foundation team closed their reflection with thanks to everyone who made the day possible: "A sincere thank you to LP4Y and all the dedicated participants for their enthusiastic engagement!"
What It Looked Like on the Ground
For the Youths and Catalysts actually in the room, Safety Day is less about the format and more about what sticks afterward.
At TDC Howrah, Md Bilal, a Youth in the Management Step, walked away with concrete tools he plans to use immediately:
"I learned about different safety rules, how to prevent accidents, and what to do in an emergency. I also learned the importance of staying alert and helping others stay safe. My favourite moment was the practical demonstration and group activities because they helped me understand safety in a fun and easy way."
What made the difference, he said, wasn't the theory: it was the hands-on practice. And the lessons don't stop with him:
"This session will help me stay safe in my daily life and make better decisions during emergencies. I will share what I learned with my family and encourage them to follow safety rules to keep everyone safe."
At TDC Cairo, Coach Nermeen saw the day's impact from a different angle: not just as new knowledge, but as a shift in confidence, especially for the young women she works with:
"For me, Safety Day is really about empowering the Youth. Many of these girls haven't thought about safety or emergencies before, so giving them this knowledge builds their confidence and teaches them how to protect themselves and others. It's an essential life skill that every young person needs, and seeing them learn and grow from it is super rewarding."
Why It Matters
Safety Day isn't a one-off training is day to learn and practice, and a day to master the safety of the environment each Youth and Catalyst calls home. As climate change makes natural disasters more frequent and more severe across the World, and as the communities LP4Y works with are often those most vulnerable to their impact, this edition's focus on preparedness felt more relevant than ever.
With Veolia Foundation's continued partnership bringing field-tested expertise into the conversation, and Youths and Catalysts bringing their own lived context from eight different countries, the July session was a reminder that safety is a skill.
A sincere thank you to Fondation Veolia for their continued partnership and dedication to youth empowerment. See you at the next Safety Day.
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