"Pledge 25" is a project of the youth department of the Philippine National Red Cross. The project was started in 1999, and set up to recruit young volunteers as blood donors. The project emphasizes the value of saving lives by giving blood.

The Red Cross ”Pledge 25”, also called “Club 25”, started in Zimbabwe in 1989 to target an untapped pool of low-risk donors. A student suggested that young people should commit to give blood 25 times by age 25. Now, “Club 25” members donate around 70 per cent of the blood collected in Zimbabwe. “Club 25” has spread around the world.

The Philippine initiative is the first Red Cross Red Crescent involvement in this project. Young blood donors pledge to donate blood three to four times a year, from the age of 18 to 25 years old. After this, they will join other blood donors’ groups and continue donating blood. They also work to recruit new donors. The technical aspects are handled in cooperation with the National Blood Services.

For more information contact:
Romeo S. Orilla, Red Cross Youth Manager: orilla@redcross.org.ph

Keep in mind that there are some tools available at the International Federation, such as the new Club 25 Video and the World Blood Donor Day website: www.wbdd.org.

The objectives:

• To organise a youth group who will work to encourage regular blood donors among the youth sector
• To create a group of young blood donor recruiters
• To promote the participation of women in voluntary blood donation
• To instil into both young and old alike, the value of saving others' lives by voluntary blood donation

Members
Philippine Red Cross youth members generally represent various youth groups, either government or non-government organisations. However, we also accept those who do not yet belong to any youth organization. At present, the Philippine Red Cross youth has more than a thousand active members nationwide. Our members are also actively participating in various worthwhile Red Cross youth activities other than blood donation.