Jean-Luc Martinage, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, in Toubani So, Mali
It’s 06:15 in Toubani So, a rural compound located about 20 kilometres outside Bamako, the capital of Mali. Francoise, a Cameroon Red Cross volunteer, slowly gets out of her bed in her hut. A new day is starting at the Red Cross Red Crescent Young Volunteers Camp.
Francoise is one of the participants representing 25 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies from all over the world who have come together in the Mali to develop a skills-based principles and values toolkit to empower young people as agents of behavioural change.
For Francoise, the day starts with open-air breathing and relaxation time. Then, she takes part in a number of sessions promoting respect for diversity, non-discrimination, peace, cooperation and mutual understanding. Training on skills such as building empathy and resilience, active listening, mediation and consensus building, counselling and non violence is also provided through role-plays and visualisation. Music, dance, theatre and singing are widely used as well.
These same participants will join many other young volunteers from all over the world during a major youth gathering that will take place in the Italian town of Solferino in June 2009 to share their work and present the toolkit to be used by Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to promote humanitarian values and change of mindset, attitudes and behaviour.
Turn principles into reality
“This week is highly symbolical, as it is marked by important days such as World AIDS Day, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities and World Volunteers Day,” explains Katrien Beeckman, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ principles and values department in Geneva, which organized the workshop with the support of Mali Red Cross.
“We want to show that young Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are not just talking about our Fundamental Principles but also directly involved in concrete action to live them and foster them as a reality within their own communities.
“Our objective is also to intensify efforts to mobilize community respect for diversity and action against racism, discrimination, xenophobia, and marginalization. The toolkit will provide innovative ways to achieve these goals,” she adds.
Besides highlighting the principles and values of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the workshop also emphasizes the need to respect nature and the environment. It takes place in the heart of Africa, at a time when the International Federation has made the continent one of its main priorities.
No cultural barriers
“It is great to meet other volunteers from all over the world involved in community work as we can also exchange best practises and discuss how we can team up together to better promote our humanitarian values,” says Francoise, who has been a Cameroon Red Cross volunteer for the past six years. “Language, religion and cultural difference don’t keep us from working together and we want to bring this message to youths within our communities when we go back home.”
Daniel Sayi, the deputy head of the International Federation’s West andCentral Africa zone who travelled to Mali to attend the workshop, echoes Francoise’s words. “We tell our volunteers not just to ask for their community members to change but instead instill in them the desire to act differently by being the first to change their own behaviour,” he told participants.
After a busy day attending sessions, Francoise and her fellow volunteers finally find some time to relax by sharing aspects of their culture with each other. Some brought traditional costumes and crafts, local food or posters and pictures from their country. Afterwards, a Malian orchestra and dancers living with disabilities make everybody go to the dance floor. Cheers and laughter can be heard long through the night in the large dining room where everyone has gathered.
Yet, participants of the Mali youth camp never forget that they now have a major responsibility to share what they have learned with the thousands of volunteers who are also taking action all over the world to make a difference within their communities.