In disasters I see resilience

Picture the aftermath of a natural disaster, you probably see devastated communities, destroyed homes, helpless people. But the researcher and educator Yanjun Cai is offering us an alternative. From her study, she saw resilience and local innovation. people are not only helping themselves but also helping the others.

Disasters have become a new normal for lots of people. Yanjun Cai argues that vulnerable populations, who are equipped with invisible capacities, can demonstrate innovation and transformation through disaster experiences. Yanjun is a PhD Candidate in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawaii. As an educator and innovator in various institutes all over the world, such as University at Albany, UNDP, ADB, Yanjun’s work lie in community development and resilience building through creative approaches.