Leaders of two of the world’s largest community-based organizations signed an agreement on 27 March in Geneva to join forces on a common goal : strengthen the essential role volunteers play in preparing for disasters and in responding to emergencies at community level.
At a brief ceremony to mark the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the International Association of Lions Clubs (LCI) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), LCI President Albert F. Brandel, called the accord a “significant partnership”. The global network of 44,000 Lions Clubs present in 205 countries, has long provided relief to victims of natural disasters.
“The Lions are getting more and more involved in times of disaster, and there seem to be more and more disasters,” he said. “We can do many things together by pooling our efforts around the world. You get satisfaction not just by writing a cheque, but by doing something. You have the expertise, we have the hands and the resources, and our membership is growing.”
In his remarks, IFRC Secretary General Bekele Geleta pointed to the similar community-based approach of the two organizations. “You are everywhere, just like us,” he noted. “We can be prime movers of society in terms of membership and together we can contribute significantly to changing the world.” He called the accord an “important relationship”.
The International Federation considers its tens of millions of Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers as key to reducing the impact of disasters and empowering communities to be prepared for crisis, because they are there before, during and after disaster strikes.
“To achieve our humanitarian goals and create a culture of prevention, we must improve the situation of our volunteers all over the world. We must strongly advocate for better volunteer management practices, internationally and nationally,” Bekele Geleta explained. “Because we are facing major challenges posed by global disasters linked to climate change and economic crises, it is vital we do this in cooperation with partners. Together we can build safer and more resilient communities.”
As a follow-up to the MoU, projects will be developed at the local level by the International Association of Lions Clubs and the International Federation, focusing on disaster preparedness and response, on the promotion of volunteerism, as well as on programmes to build up the operational capacity of their volunteers all over the world.
Note to editors: Founded in 1917, LCI is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.3 million members in more than 44,000 clubs in 205 countries and geographic territories. Lions members work together to answer needs at the community level, funding projects that range from cleaning up parks to providing people affected by disasters with emergency supplies. The Lions ALERT programme works closely with local emergency responders. (For more information: www.lionsclubs.org)
With 186 member Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and some 100 million volunteers, the IFRC is the world’s largest humanitarian network. Its mission is to improve the situation of the most vulnerable people. Founded in 1919, it works to strengthen the capacity of its member Societies to carry out effective disaster preparedness and disaster response activities as well as health and social programmes. (For more information: www.ifrc.org)