After
serving for more than 32 years as a volunteer for the Red Cross
in Zimbabwe, Joseph Ndala, 52, is still filled with zeal and
energy. He has no plans to retire.
“It’s the passion to serve human life that keeps
me going,” says Joseph.
He thinks the experience he has accrued during all those years
should not just go to waste, but should be passed on to a new
generation of volunteers so that the Red Cross remains strong.
“I joined the Red Cross in May 1972, when I was just 20
years old. I got my first First Aid certificate in June the
same year,” he recalls.
At that time, the country was being rocked by conflict
After seeing many people dying due to lack of simple aid, Joseph
could not resist the urge to save human life through First Aid.
He later joined the Highfields branch in Harare which was comprised
mainly of teachers from local schools.
“During the war, it was a big challenge for most of us,
as racism was very high among the black and white communities
in the country. Yet the group of volunteers we worked with was
a mixed group," he recounts.
"This is when I realized that the seven fundamental principles
are no joke at all and until today I still believe in them.
We assisted everyone during the war, regardless of race and
it was a trying situation.”
“Since then Red Cross is like a church to me. I believe
in it because I have been through thick and thin,” explains
Joseph.
He adds that, although many people are surprised to hear that
we offer our services for free, they only realize the importance
of what we do when they are affected by disasters.
In the early 1970s and 80s, Joseph and his Red Cross colleagues
were deployed in public gatherings, especially national events,
to offer First Aid services whenever needed.
By that time, Joseph was an ambulance driver. “We were
always ready to go and help anytime of the day or night.”
Joseph, a father of three girls and a boy, has seen his country
pass through many different crises in the past three decades:
the war of independence, severe droughts, disease outbreaks,
and more recently floods and HIV and AIDS, which has become
a major disaster in Zimbabwe.
“I have seen a lot as I was growing up. From gunshots
wounds, road accident victims, bodies emaciated by hunger, drowning
people during floods and those affected by HIV and AIDS. This
environment is changing rapidly,” admits Joseph.
The floods caused by Cyclone Eline in 2000 are still fresh in
his mind as he nearly lost his own life while trying to rescue
a child. “I lost control of the vehicle I was driving
in an attempt to save a drowning child. I could not imagine
seeing that child dying in front me and I had to do everything
possible to save him,” explains Joseph, who managed to
save both his life and that of the child.
“After the floods, we mobilized other volunteers to seek
donations from the private sector and well-wishers to assist
the affected families. It was not easy considering the country
was going through a difficult period and not many people were
willing to give. I was happy that at least we were able get
clothes and food for the affected families, whilst waiting for
the bigger donations to come from donors,” he says.
Joseph is now a member of the HIV and AIDS prevention group
in his area. “HIV and AIDS is huge challenge, but we still
need to emphasize prevention more to young children,”
advises Joseph.
“The problem we had in the first place was that many men
were not interested in HIV and AIDS programmes because they
thought it was for women. We are now seeing many men joining
programmes such as home-based care to support the efforts of
the Red Cross in reducing the suffering of the affected people.”
But what does it take for one to be a volunteer for such a long
time and still remain a member even, when some people of his
age are contemplating retiring?
“To be a good volunteer one needs to be sympathetic to
others, regardless of who they are and who you are. Put human
life ahead of everything else. In the Red Cross, I have learnt
that everyone is equal and people should be treated in an equal
manner. The seven fundamental principles are like commandments
because I have seen it being practice during the war where neutrality,
impartiality, universality, unity, humanity, voluntary service
and independence mattered most.”
He pledged that for as long as he is still fit enough to work,
he will always make his service available to the Red Cross as
he feels that Red Cross is his second home.
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Joseph
Ndala began his Red Cross career 32 years ago, and he
intends to continue serving others (p12772)
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Joseph
with the head of the International Federation's delegation
in Harare, Françoise Le Goff (p12773)
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