The
100 million Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers and members
around the world are essential to making sure millions of vulnerable
people receive effective, timely, sustainable and appropriate
humanitarian assistance, according to the International Federation
of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The statement marks
International Volunteer Day, celebrated on 5 December since
2001.
“Our volunteers are the key to achieving the International
Federation’s Global Agenda, meant to contribute to the
United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals,” emphasised
Federation President Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro on International
Volunteer Day, December 5, 2006. “Every day, through their
solidarity, commitment and motivation, they put volunteerism,
one of our fundamental principles, at the service of reducing
death, injury, disease and the impact of disasters, as well
as fighting discrimination and promoting tolerance.”
The 100 million Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and members
around the world are essential to making sure millions of vulnerable
people receive effective, timely, sustainable and appropriate
humanitarian assistance. With more than half of the active Red
Cross and Red Crescent volunteers worldwide under 30 years old,
the International Federation’s 185 member Societies recently
reaffirmed their commitment to promoting youth and volunteering,
improving the recruitment, training and management of their
volunteers and giving them a greater voice at the decision-making
level in the elaboration of programmes.
Traditionally, children and younger adolescents have been considered
the beneficiaries of the Movement. However, adolescents and
young adults have to be provided with the opportunity to serve
as active volunteers and acquire the skills to be active partners
in the governance and management of the Federation of today
and tomorrow by working side by side the older members.
“Youth volunteering brings a new sense of confidence,
self-gratification, new ventures, networks, maturity and a good
way to interact in the grown-up world,” emphasised Shadrack
Musyoka, a Kenya Red Cross Youth volunteer currently working
with the Norwegian Red Cross Youth in Bergen, Norway. In Kenya
Red Cross, 60 percent of the volunteers and members are youth,
providing disaster response, health and social services, capacity
building and community development. “Volunteering also
enables us young people to develop important career and social
skills that will be useful in other fields of our lives.”
He further encouraged National Societies to continue recruiting
youth volunteers, and young people in general to get more involved.
“Support the Red Cross,” he said. ”Your new
ideas, abilities and energy are highly appreciated!”
The National Societies, as well as other volunteer organizations
worldwide, are organizing events to celebrate and recognize
their volunteers on December 5. The Federation Secretary General
Markku Niskala also encouraged the celebrations in a message
to all his staff on International Volunteer Day.
“Volunteers, working without any desire for gain, are
the heart and the identity of our organization,” said
Niskala. “Our volunteers, men and women of all ages working
at our 185 National Societies, are our greatest strength. Join
me in recognizing, encouraging and supporting our volunteers!
Let us never forget that they are what define us and what make
us a unique humanitarian force in the world.”
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Volunteer Day was established by the UN in 2001, the International
Year of Volunteers (IYV).
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| Volunteers
in Lebanon playing with children in shelters.
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| Community
project in Bolivia. |
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| Young
volunteers teaching first aid during a music festival
in Ukraine. |
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