The recent earthquake in Nepal, but also the intentional destruction of heritage in Iraq and Syria, underline the importance of trained professionals in the field of cultural first aid.
From 30 March till 24 April 2015 the four week course ‘First Aid to Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis’ (FAC) was held in The Netherlands. The FAC 2015 is organized by main partners UNESCO, ICCROM and Smithsonian. Within the framework of the 60th anniversary of the Hague Convention the FAC 2015 was held in the Netherlands.
The course aims to equip participants with necessary skills and knowledge to provide timely response in emergency situations (such as natural disaster and armed conflicts). The training aims to explore areas of joint programming between culture and humanitarian sectors to make certain that the effected communities participate in their own recovery. Developing cost effective strategies for risk reduction and disaster preparedness of cultural heritage forms a core component of the training. After the course participants will share their knowledge in their own country with local organizations, volunteers and are encouraged to put in place 'heritage rescue teams'.
The Centre for Global Heritage and Development assisted in the registration and in the development of the digital learning environment used throughout the course. This online platform was accessible to participants and teachers and provided them an opportunity to prepare for the course and exchange information.