EMN
Dimapur, December 28
The five-day State level Youth Red Cross Study-cum-training camp for Youth Red Cross Volunteers was organized at PN (A) College in Khurda of Odisha. The event was conducted from December 24 and culminated on December 28.
The objective of the camp was to motivate and prepare the YRC volunteers for service, and to motivate, discipline the youths and volunteers and to make them into responsible citizen in the contemporary society.
During the training camp, 359 Youth Red Cross Volunteers from 27 districts of Odisha participated. The Youth Red Cross Volunteers were trained on the topics such as history of the Red Cross movement. The fundamental principles of Red Cross, first aid, voluntary blood donation, HIV/AIDS awareness, and prevention, firefighting, road safety, global warming and climate change, and plantation.
In the morning every day, the volunteers and counselors practiced yoga and Pranayam. During evenings the volunteers participated in cultural activities.
On December 28, Dr. SC. Jamir, the governor of Odisha state, attended the valedictory function as the chief guest for the program. In his address, SC Jamir, also the president of the Indian Red Cross Society in Odisha said that the Red Cross was an organization which gives individuals ample opportunities to volunteer and render services for society and humanity. The senior leader greatly appreciated the efforts taken by the Youth Red Cross volunteers during ‘hard times’ by reaching out to the vulnerable and rendering social services during community celebrations.
Likewise, Dr. Chakradhar Panda, the honorary secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society for Odisha State Branch and Secretary for Youth Red Cross of Odisha encouraged the Youth Red Cross Volunteers to commit themselves to the betterment of the society and to be ‘good human beings voluntarily serving the most vulnerable sections of our society.’
Another speaker who addressed the event was Jyotindra Nath Mitra, president of the governing body of PN (A) College of Khurda. He was the guest of honour for the event. In his address, he said that the youths have a key role to play in bringing about reforms in the society. The Red Cross will be a great platform for the youth volunteers to take up environmental issues such as Global Warming and Climate Change, he said. Mitra suggested plantation programs in the volunteers’ respective areas.
Dr. Maj. Kalpana Das, Youth Red Cross Officer, presented a brief report of the activities that were undertaken during the camp.
Merit certificates and awards were given to the participants who won or qualified in different disciplines and competitions such as general knowledge, quiz, poster making, and debate competitions.
The INRC volunteers
The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS) is a voluntary humanitarian organization to protect human life and health based in India. It is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and so shares the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The society’s mission is providing relief in times of disasters, emergencies and promoting health and care of vulnerable people and communities. It has a network of over 700 branches throughout India.
The Society uses the Red Cross as an emblem in common with other international Red Cross societies. Volunteering has been at the very heart of the Indian Red Cross Society since its inception in 1920, with the Society having youth and junior volunteering programs. The Society is closely associated with the St John Ambulance in India.
Volunteering has been at the very heart of the Red Cross since its inception in 1920.Volunteers are the backbone of all Indian Red Cross activities, helping branches to run successful programmes and assisting millions of vulnerable people in need. IRCS rewards and recognizes volunteers whenever possible and provides appropriate personal development opportunities.
IRCS recruits volunteers irrespective of their race, ethnicity, sex, religious belief, age, and disability or membership.
All volunteers are entitled to become a Member of Indian Red Cross Society; can have appropriate training to be able to undertake the agreed tasks or role; and accept or refuse any task or role in accordance with code of ethics or fundamentals of voluntary service.
“Volunteers have been the backbone of our Movement since its birth in 1863. Today, as ever they are central to all activities of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, contributing to the success of our National Societies and assisting millions of vulnerable people in times of greatest need,” the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says about Red Cross Volunteers.
The movement currently has more than 17 million active volunteers.
