LAOAG CITY, Oct. 21 — Hundreds of young volunteers of the Red Cross gathered recently at their annual youth assembly here.
According to Anita Nicolas, PRC-Laoag City Chapter Service representative, the meeting was aimed at drawing the enthusiasm of the young volunteers towards leadership, camaraderie and friendship, service and promotion of Red Cross programs.
“This is also part of the Red Cross Youth Month celebration to intensify the participation of youth members from the schools and institutions in the province,” Nicolas said.
The volunteers are representatives from 51 public and private schools to the Philippine Red Cross-Ilocos Norte Youth Council.
“Every school has its own local red cross youth council. They serve as focal point of coordination of the Philippine Red Cross for the implementation of its policies, programs, and services,” Nicolas said.
The Red Cross, through the Youth Council, educates and empowers the children and youth through constructive trainings and effective leadership as well as provide opportunities for directing and harnessing their energy and idealism into worthwhile humanitarian activities.
“For example, the Red Cross will conduct a training on basic first-aid or a lecture on HIV among the youth, it will coordinate with the local youth council in the school. In other words, representatives of the council are actually the frontliners of the Red Cross for the youth,” Nicolas explained.
The Red Cross mobilizes and trains the youth through various programs such as leadership and life-saving trainings, health services, coastal clean-ups, tree planting, disaster preparedness, among others. The members also serve as young advocates or disseminators of blood donation by convincing adults to donate blood.
The Red Cross Youth Council carries five objectives: advocacy and inculcation of moral values and character building; protection of life and promotion of community health; service and solidarity; international friendship, understanding and education for peace; and, dissemination of the Red Cross principles and humanitarian law. (ANL/CPC-PIA 1 Ilocos Norte)
