A Global Movement
Empowering the next generation of coastal resilience guardians
The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami devastated coastal communities. Understanding these risks is the first step toward a safer future.
Convened by
Countries
Schools
Principals
Teachers
Students
Bridging Past Lessons with Future Preparedness
2024 marked the 20th anniversary of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, one of the most devastating tsunamis in history. Tsunami United was created to involve and educate the next generation on tsunami risks, awareness, and preparedness.
Tidal Talks
Uniting Generations through Conversations
A series of Zoom discussions covering the timeline and impact of the 2004 tsunami, the progress made since, and student perspectives on future risk.
Coastal Mates
Connects high school students
Schools in tsunami-prone areas connected nationally and regionally to share experiences and best practices.
Wave Masters
Coaching for the Future Leaders
A coaching programme that equipped students with communication skills, from finding their creative voice to running effective risk campaigns.
Uniting High Schools Across the Indian Ocean Region
The first cohort is organised by time zone so every student can join live.
Creativity that Saves Lives
Students competed in the Indian Ocean Youth Tsunami Awareness Campaign to share crucial knowledge with their communities.
Read the BriefSurfing the Knowledge Wave
Sessions explored the history of the 2004 tsunami, its impact, and the storytelling skills students used to spread awareness.
From historical context to forecasting future scenarios, then on to coaching in storytelling and video editing, the cohort rode a wave of knowledge together.
Campaign Results
Celebrating the most outstanding tsunami awareness campaigns from across the Indian Ocean region.
Excellence Achievements
Region 1: Eastern Indian Ocean
- No.8 BEHS, Mawlamyine, Myanmar
- MAN 1 Banda Aceh, Indonesia
- SMA Lab Unsyiah, Banda Aceh
Region 2: Northwestern Indian Ocean
- Sharjah Indian School (Girls) - Ruby team
- Sharjah Indian School (Girls) - Gursimran team
Region 3: Indian Ocean SIDS
- Centre for Higher Secondary Education, Hulhumale, Maldives
Region 4: Western Indian Ocean
- Menzi High School, South Africa
We Talked to Space
On 2 August 2024, students from schools in 26 countries spoke live with NASA astronaut Sunita Williams aboard the International Space Station.
Students from the Indian Ocean region learned about natural hazard research and monitoring from the unique perspective of an astronaut on the ISS. Schools across the region submitted nearly 90 questions, with 16 selected for the live event.
The initiative was supported by the NASA Earth Science Applied Sciences Disasters program, UNESCO Office Jakarta, the Indian Ocean Tsunami Information Centre (IOTIC UNESCO-IOC), BMKG, UNDRR, the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and U-INSPIRE Indonesia.
Voices from the 2024 Cohort
"The 2004 tsunami was a wake-up call for all of us. Through Tsunami United, I learned how to communicate the importance of preparedness to my community."
"Being part of Tsunami United helped me understand that young people can make a real difference in disaster risk reduction."
"The coaching sessions gave me the skills to create awareness campaigns that actually reach and impact people in my country."
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about Tsunami United, eligibility, and what to expect.
What is Tsunami United?
Tsunami United is a global movement to empower the next generation of coastal resilience guardians. It involves students from schools in tsunami-prone areas across the Indian Ocean region.
Who can participate?
High school students from countries in the Indian Ocean region are eligible to participate. Schools must be located in tsunami-prone areas.
What activities are included?
The programme included Tidal Talks (Zoom discussions), Coastal Mates (school connections), Wave Masters (coaching sessions), and a campaign competition.
How can my school join?
Schools can register their interest through the competition page. Selected schools will be invited to participate in the programme activities.
World Tsunami Awareness Day
Tsunami United aligns with the goals of World Tsunami Awareness Day: raising awareness, strengthening early warning systems, and educating the next generation on preparedness.
Learn More at UNDRR →