www.ov.ingv.it Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - Sezione di Napoli Osservatorio Vesuviano R. Nave (1) , F. Sansivero (1) , R. Isaia (1) , C. Fassoulas 2 , N. Zouros 3 , F. Boldrini 4 , A. Kourou 5 , T. Tzvetanski 6 , and G. Martini 7 1 Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - Osservatorio Vesuviano, Naples, Italy; 2 Psiloritis Natural Park, Natural History Museum, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece; 3 Natural History Museum of Lesvos Petrified Forest, Mytilini, Greece; 4 Centro Studi e Formazione Villa Montesca, Perugia, Italy; 5 Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Athens, Greece; 6 Centre for Educational Initiatives Association, Sofia, Bulgaria; 7 Reserve Geologique Haute Provence, Digne Les Bains France. The natural risk assessment and its further step in finding how to mitigate these risks, give to education and outreach activities an important role. A long term effort in implementing innovative educational activities is essential to convey information able to contribute for a better understanding of peculiar territorial features and related hazard and risk. Promoting the geological heritage and educating people on natural phenomena can play key role in disseminating information and good practices to minimize the effect of possible disasters. Raising awareness to natural hazards: the RACCE European Project RACCE PARTNERS ARE: Main deliverables of the project would be the elaboration of an innovative and mobile experimental Educational Project connected with school curricula and a Travelling Exhibition. Project is expected to contribute in sharing information, in raising awareness, in minimizing the impact of such disasters and finally, in the establishment in the areas involved of a voluntary network of operators and beneficiaries to constantly share, discuss and apply the outcomes. The project’s aim is to raise awareness, improving knowledge on natural hazardous phenomena (mainly seismic and then volcanic hazard) and simultaneously, to educate relative groups (teachers, parents, civil protection volunteers, etc.) on the best practices to deal with seismic and volcanic risk and also on responses able to palliate the children emotional burden in case of a serious events. The main tasks of the project are: , share and implement best practices and methodologies gained from previous EU projects and partners’ activities. and realize innovative initiatives, actions and educational material aiming to raise awareness and increase knowledge of pupils on earthquake and volcanic hazards. teachers, parents or other relative groups to cope with a seismic/volcanic hazardous event and also to be able to children emotional impact palliation in case of such events In order to support a culture of prevention, focusing on a project in the Mediterranean area, some European Research and Educational Institutions and Natural History Museums has been developed the project RACCE (Raising earthquake Awareness and Coping Children’s Emotions), granted in 2011 by European Commission, Civil Protection Instrument, proposing a new information/education approach. Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia - Osservatorio Vesuviano, Naples, Italy. Natural History Museum of Lesvos Petrified Forest, Mytilini, Greece. Project Coordinator. Psiloritis Natural Park, Natural History Museum, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. Earthquake Planning and Protection Organisation, Athens, Greece. Centre for Educational Initiatives Association, Sofia, Bulgaria. Reserve Geologique Haute Provence, Digne Les Bains, France. Centro Studi e Formazione Villa Montesca, Perugia, Italy. http://racce.nhmc.uoc.gr Example of educational kit developed by RACCE Project Greek newspaper article on the RACCE activities during the 1° Meeting of the Project (Lesvos March 2011). Second RACCE Meeting in Naples (July 2011)