Green response

Displaying 1 - 5 of 5
|
Article

Rooted in resilience: Cambodian Red Cross unites communities to restore mangroves

In southern Cambodia’s Kampot province, a recent mangrove planting event brought together Red Cross volunteers and local residents – young and old – along with the IFRC to restore degraded coastal areas by planting mangrove trees.“What’s special about today is seeing people from all walks of life coming together,” says 76-year-old Cambodian Red Cross volunteer Norm Teat.“Planting mangroves isn’t just about trees—it’s about protecting our future,” he adds. “These trees help prevent coastal erosion, support marine life, and even absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere”.Recognizing also the vital importance of coastal mangrove forests in protecting shorelines during severe storms, the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) is working partnership with IFRC, local communities and other stakeholders to plant mangroves and promote long-term environmental stewardship.These community-based efforts, therefore, are part of a wider campaign to raise awareness and increase resilience to climate-related disasters such as coastal flooding and storms.“In Kampot province, there are more than 800 Red Cross volunteers and more than 1,000 Red Cross youth,” said Men Neary Sopheak, First Deputy Secretary General of the Cambodian Red Cross.“The Red Cross’s mangrove initiative is a part of our broader commitment to bring healthy and climate resilient communities in Cambodia, By restoring and conserving mangrove forests, we help protect biodiversity, improve water quality, and support the livelihoods of people living along the coast.”Why are mangrove forests so resilient in the fact of severe weather? One reason is that some mangrove trees can “breathe” through aerial roots that rise above the muddy ground like snorkels. This allows them to survive in waterlogged soils.CRC’s approach extends beyond planting. Through community training in mangrove care, disaster preparedness, and environmental protection, the Red Cross is empowering local people to become stewards of their own environment. “The climate is changing, and we must support communities to adapt—especially for the sake of future generations,” said Kathryn Clarkson, IFRC Head of Delegation for Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam.“I’ve joined mangrove planting activities with the Cambodian Red Cross many times, and each time it reinforces how vital mangroves are—not only as a natural defense system, but also as an absorber of carbon from the atmosphere and as a symbol of resilience.”For 76-year-old Mr. Norm Teat, the campaign holds deep personal meaning.“I’ve been a Cambodian Red Cross volunteer since 2014,” he says. “Over the years, I’ve learned so much—about health, disaster preparedness, vegetable farming, and protecting our environment—and I share this knowledge with my family and community”.As mangroves face growing threats from development and climate change, initiatives like these demonstrate the strength of community-led action.In recognition of World Mangrove Day this month, we celebrate the communities working to protect these unique ecosystems — for a greener, safer and more resilient future.By Kwanta Norkum, IFRC Communications and Reporting OfficerRead more about climate-smart disaster risk reduction at the IFRCRead more about climate resilience at the IFRC

Read more
|
Article

Empress Shōken Fund announces grants in 2025 to support Red Cross and Red Crescent projects in 17 countries

The Joint Commission of the Empress Shōken Fund (ESF) has announced a new distribution of funds, totalling 502,578 Swiss francs, which will support 16 projects run by 17 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The commission is administered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).The projects chosen cover a variety of issues, including blood transfusion services, disaster preparedness, first aid and rescue, health, youth and National Society development.The countries where the projects are being implemented are Afghanistan, Argentina, Angolajointly with Mozambique, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Jordan, Morocco, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia.The ESF received 63 applications over the last year for the 104th distribution of income, representing the largest number of applications ever received.In 2024, the ESF strengthened its pipeline of innovation initiatives by enhancing the rigour of its application, review and learning processes. This was done by introducing an innovation framework, making the selection criteria clearer, using innovation experts for assessments and promoting structured experimentation to enable more impactful, replicable solutions across the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.As a result of these enhancements, the quality of applications in 2024 improved significantly, with proposals demonstrating greater innovation, clarity and alignment with the Movement’s priorities.This upward trend confirms the value of ESF’s reinforced focus on innovation, experimentation and learning, and it highlights the ongoing need to support National Societies as they test and scale up new approaches to increase the impact of their humanitarian projects.With a total value of over 15 million Swiss francs, the ESF supports projects run by National Societies that benefit the communities they serve in many different ways. The first ESF grant was awarded in 1921 to help five European National Societies fight the spread of tuberculosis.Since then, over16 million Swiss francs has been allocated to 175 National Societies.The grants are announced every year on 11April, the anniversary of the death of Her Majesty Empress Shōken, one of the founders of the Japanese Red Cross Society.2025 grantsBlood donation and first aidFiji: Digital blood donation platformFiji struggles with maintaining stable blood supplies due to logistical gaps and low donor engagement. This initiative creates a mobile app that will help the National Society manage donors, improve communication and gamify the donation experience. As Fiji’s first digital blood management tool, it will revolutionize outreach and retention of blood donors. With many small island states facing similar challenges, the app-based solution is a promising, replicable model.Slovakia: First aid digital educationSlovakia has one of the lowest levels of first aid knowledge in Europe, leading to thousands of preventable deaths. This initiative introduces the first free digital first aid training app and course in the country, making life-saving knowledge accessible and engaging. Its innovation lies in removing cost and access barriers through interactive learning. The tools are digital by design and can be shared or adapted widely across Europe.Disaster preparedness and responseAngola and Mozambique: Peer-to-peer disaster responseThis initiative marks the first peer-to-peer learning initiative between two Portuguese-speaking National Societies – Angola and Mozambique – in which each National Society will build on the strengths of the other to co-develop disaster-preparedness systems. Facing frequent emergencies and limited coordination mechanisms, this initiative introduces shared procedures, a joint volunteer tracking system and collaborative training workshops. It sets a precedent for mutual capacity strengthening and cross-border cooperation, offering a scalable and replicable model for other linguistic or regional partnerships.Trinidad and Tobago: Drones and geographical information systems for disaster preparednessFlood-prone rural communities lack risk data and real-time early warning systems. This initiative empowers them with drones and geographical information systems technology for local hazard mapping, training community resilience groups to lead disaster planning. It is the first initiative of its kind in the country and places cutting-edge technology in the hands of local actors. The model is well positioned for replication in small island and disaster-prone areas globally.Health and hygieneAfghanistan: Integrated TB/HIV screening at mental health centreIn Afghanistan, mental health patients are often excluded from mainstream TB/HIV health services, increasing the risk of outbreaks. This initiative fills that gap by integrating screening within a Red Crescent mental health centre, complemented by staff training and stigma reduction campaigns. The innovation lies in combining mental and infectious disease services under one roof, with strong potential for replication across other health centres and conflict settings.Argentina: Mental health and gambling preventionWith online gambling addiction surging among teens, this youth-led initiative tackles a growing mental health crisis through research, prevention education and advocacy. This is Argentina’s first national study on adolescent gambling, and uniquely integrates youth participation at all levels. The mix of data-driven policy work and peer-led awareness offers a model that can be applied in other countries facing similar digital addiction trends.Guatemala: Healthy life, healthy communityWith dengue cases surging, volunteers in Guatemala are unprepared to respond effectively. This initiative trains volunteers in prevention and equips them to lead micro-projects and clean-up campaigns. The innovative element is the initiative’s use of volunteers as community health educators and action leaders, supported by digital tools for tracking. The model’s grassroots structure makes it easy to replicate in other vector-borne disease hotspots.Somalia: Soap factory initiativePoor hygiene infrastructure and reliance on costly hygiene-related imports leave Somali communities vulnerable to preventable diseases. This initiative sets up a volunteer-run soap factory to produce affordable hygiene products locally. The initiative is innovative in how it fuses local manufacturing with WASH programme delivery and community engagement. The small-scale, volunteer-led model is ideal for replication across Somalia and in other resource-constrained settings.Youth engagement and empowermentBosnia and Herzegovina: Climate action ambassadors fellowshipThis programme not only fills a leadership vacuum but directly counters youth emigration by giving young people a reason to stay engaged locally. With tools like a volunteer handbook and leadership camps, it systematizes climate-action learning. The success of this initiative opens pathways for replication by any National Society seeking to activate youth climate leadership.Jordan: Youth engagement and activity centreJordanian youth volunteers lack structured spaces and systems to coordinate humanitarian action, leading to low retention and missed opportunities. This initiative establishes a dedicated Youth Engagement Centre and a digital volunteer management system to professionalize and energize youth participation. It is the first of its kind in Jordan, combining physical space, tech and training to build a volunteer pipeline. With its modular set-up and digital backbone, it is highly replicable across National Societies seeking to scale up their impact for young people.Slovenia: Let’s Face the ClimateThe initiative addresses the lack of involvement of young people in climate programming by giving them tools and platforms to lead change. By integrating structured curricula with digital tools and advocacy channels, it makes climate action tangible and appealing to young people. The blended format – interactive learning and youth-led projects – offers a replicable strategy for youth mobilization across Europe and beyond.Livelihoods and economic empowermentEcuador: Gamified hydroponics for food securityFood insecurity and youth unemployment are growing in rural Ecuador, compounded by land and water scarcity. This initiative uses gamified learning to teach hydroponic farming – blending tech, nature and hands-on education. Its innovation lies in making sustainable agriculture fun and accessible, especially to young people. The approach is highly replicable, especially in areas facing similar climate and food system pressures.Morocco: Vocational skills for rural womenRural women in Bab Taza face high unemployment due to lack of formal education and skills training. This initiative will build a local training centre offering sewing, tailoring and marketing workshops to turn skills into sustainable income. It is innovative in how it bridges vocational skills with entrepreneurship and branding, setting women up for long-term independence. Its modular approach makes it adaptable for other rural areas across the region.Climate action and environmental sustainabilityGhana: The Green WomenRural communities in Ghana face worsening climate-related impacts, water scarcity and soil degradation, with women and young people often excluded from sustainable economic opportunities. This women-led initiative addresses the urgent need for climate-resilient agriculture by providing mobile solar irrigation, composting and tree planting. Its innovation lies in combining renewable technology with agroforestry and business skills, creating both environmental and economic resilience. With scalable solar irrigation units and replicable training modules, the project can be adapted across similar farming communities.Democratic Republic of the Congo: Green School BrigadeWith massive deforestation and limited environmental education, young people in the DRC are disconnected from climate action. This initiative activates school brigades to lead tree planting and environmental education, promoting youth volunteerism and long-term climate consciousness. It is innovative in how it embeds humanitarian values into environmental action at a school level, and is highly replicable across schools and provinces with basic resources and Red Cross Youth coordination.Zambia: Youth-driven sustainable waste managementRapid urbanization and poor waste management in Lusaka’s informal settlements create major health and climate risks, particularly for young people. This youth-led initiative tackles waste through recycling, composting and community awareness, while creating green jobs. Its innovation lies in linking environmental action with youth economic empowerment, supported by digital tools and local business partnerships. The model is community-driven and scalable to other urban areas across Africa.Read about the Empress Shôken Fund’s grant allocations in 2024.

Read more
|
Article

In part of Nigeria hard hit by drought and heatwaves, Red Cross volunteers are helping farmers find natural solutions

Like many young people in Nigeria, Saratu Aboki was introduced to the Red Cross in grade school, when she learned a range of first-aid skills to care for herself and others in emergencies.Over the years, she trained many others in first aid and in doing so she learned to speak many of the 29 languages spoken in her home state of Nasarawa.But even though she always had a strong love for the environment and the natural world, she says she was never very interested in one of the biggest activities in her home state: farming. Despite the fact that farming makes up a big part of the economy in Nasarawa, she didn’t know much about what it took to grow the food that ended up on her table.That was until she saw how much the farmers were suffering due to the dual impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic – which put a halt on nearly all trade for farmers for several seasons -- and the prolonged heatwaves and droughts in the years since.Saratu knew she wanted to do something to help. After all, the farmers were the lifeblood of their area, bringing in income and producing the yams, sesame seeds, casava and maize beloved and needed by everyone.“After the Covid-19 pandemic, the small-scale farmers in my community had a hard time getting back on their feet because during the crisis they could not take their product to market to sell,” Saratu says. “They lost a lot of their crops, especially the perishable ones. They lost almost half of their livelihoods.”After the pandemic eased up, it didn’t get much better. The normal rainy seasons weren’t coming as usual. After losing so much, farmers could no longer afford supplies like fertilizers that they needed to put on their crops of wheat, rice, melon, cassava yams and maize.“The farmers had this ritual where, at the end of each harvest, they clear their fields by setting fire to the remains of the plants in the field,” she recalls. “So I started to think about how to convert the leftover plant material into organic fertilizer.”“When the IFRC was calling for applications for its ‘Limitless’ project at the Solferino Academy, for people who have innovative ideas, I saw it as an opportunity for me to help the people of my community to get back on their feet,” she says. ‘So excited to share’With support from her local branch, Saratu’s first step was to organize training sessions with about 120 farmers, who came from 15 communities in the area. The trainings went well and the farmers were receptive.In the coming months, Saratu and other branch volunteers organized trainings in 10 other communities, where they invited farm leaders from various communities in the hope that they would share the knowledge with other farmers.The composting process they proposed to the farmers is relatively simple, though it is hard work. First, the farmers collect all the leftover plant stalks and leaves. Then they make a pit and put the organic material inside.After that, they add some topsoil and some fresh plant material. Then sprinkle occasionally with water over the next three or four months. After that, the compost is ready to be put on the fields, in time for the next planting season.But it’s also not so simple. It’s important to get the right balance of materials and to give the process enough time. Too much of one ingredient – or not enough of another – can inhibit the composting process. Also, if the compost is not cured properly, it can be too strong and hurt the crops’ growth.It’s been a joint learning process, and Saratu stays in constant touch with farmers as an evolving experiment as they refine their technique and continue to share ideas.“They call me at all times of the day and night,” she says with a smile. “They are so excited to share what they’ve learned as they try new techniques and successes. They call me and say, ‘You have to come to my village and see my yams.’”“One farmer told me that last year, he got an increasing yield and was able to buy a car and that car is now helping get his produce from farm to the community. He doesn’t have to pay money to convey the produce to the community any longer. Also, he says his kids have gone back to school. I told him I was so happy.”“It keeps me going because I know it’s protecting our ecosystem, the communities and people’s health — and it’s making money for the farmers.”Helping people displaced by violenceThe project has now expanded to other states in Nigeria. In Benue State, Saratu and other volunteers have done many trainings in camps for people displaced due to violence between herding and farming communities.“The idea is to train them so that as go back to their homes, they have something to fall back on,” she says. “A lot of the displaced people lost everything and they have to go back to farming. A lot of them are not able to afford the supplies they need.”So far, the volunteers have trained more than 2,000 farmers. They also show a similar process to women who manage gardens from which their families get much of their daily food. In this case, the compost is made mainly with cow dung, chicken dropping and rice husks.From first-aider to farmerNow, many years after learning first aid as a young student, Saratu is still also a first aid volunteer who offers trainings in first aid wherever she goes. But she also has a new found love for farming.“Now I am putting these farming skills to the test myself,” she says. “I plant around my house and I do different tests, trying other things, mixing different ingredients to make the compost.”For example, she says, if you apply too much compost to a patch of sweet potatoes, you might end up with plants that produce a lot of leaves but not much of a fruit, or in this case the root. Now that she’s got the farming bug she wants to keep developing her own green thumb. “I just learnt it on my own,” she says. “I was someone who did not really like farming. But now I love it.”“I intend to farm really big now. I want to grow maize and rice. Presently, rice is one of crops that is very expensive so I would like to experiment on techniques so it can be grown more affordably.”“But I have a lot to learn. I am still on the journey.”

Read more
|
Podcast

Dyanne Marenco Gonzalez: Saving lives and saving the planet, all part of daily business for the Costa Rican Red Cross

Can Costa Rica’s largest ambulance fleet become completely carbon neutral? How can we better work with the forces of nature to protect our communities from natural calamities? Is it possible to save lives and save the planet at the same time? These are some of the questions that the first woman president of the Costa Rican Red Cross, Dyanne Marenco Gonzalez, tackles during this wide-ranging interview about her 20-year humanitarian career. She also discusses the challenges of being a young woman leader in the male-dominated fields of law and emergency response.   

Read more
|
Basic page

Green response

Climate and environmental crises threaten the survival of humanity now and in the future. We must do our part to ensure that our humanitarian response and recovery operations do not cause harm to local environments, and to minimize the contribution we make to further climate change.

Read more