TwitterIf you are between 13 and 18 years old visit www.at15.com, register, earn points today and starting July 17th donate the points to help the American Red Cross raise a portion of $250,000 for youth programs! Questions? E-mail: westpat@usa.redcross.org
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: @ 15, American Red Cross Youth Services, Best Buy | Leave a Comment »
Best Buy is currently holding a contest where you can earn and donate points to your favorite charity to help them to win a portion of $250,000. The American Red Cross Youth Services is one of those charities. Take these easy steps to ensure we raise money to impact your youth programs!
Steps:
Check your age, are you between 13-18 years old? If yes, proceed!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
Hi everyone,
Right now I am in downtown Geneva at the Apple store using some internet. I apologize for the lack of posts yesterday. We had a great day, which culminated in the official reading of the youth declaration and an incredible dance party. The reading of the declaration was a very special moment for all of us youth, as all the work and travel we have done over the last two weeks is now wrapped up and the declaration shows the incredible impact we are poised to make. The declaration was made in the presence of all the youth and presented to the ICRC, the IFRC, and the UN. I took a video of the entire thing but I need to splice it and can’t do that until I get back home. I will also post the text ASAP.
The trip is not even really over until tomorrow but I am already sad to leave such a unique and incredible environment. The friends I have made along with the ideas and cultures I have learned about will follow me for a very long time. If you see me any time soon ask me to tell you about the bears and Georgia, it is crazy.
Today we finish up with a visit to the International Federation and a closing ceremony. That being said, I am also very much so looking forward to returning to Washington DC on July 4th. I cannot think of a more patriotic return to the states. Please look forward too much more information coming out through the blog following this meeting.
Lastly I just want to thank everyone who followed our journey through Solferino to Geneva, I know I really enjoyed sharing my story. Also a huge shout out to Bianca for proofreading all of our posts and putting up the pictures. It really would not have been possible without her.
If you have any questions please feel free to comment or send me an email: westpat@usa.redcross.org
Pat, Apple store, Geneva, Switzerland
P.S. If you ever find yourself here in Geneva typing realize that only the z and y keys are switched and I still can not find the apostrophe hence the lack on contractions in this post. Cheers!
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Apple store, declaration, geneva, ifrc | Leave a Comment »
Good morning yet again America,
I can’t believe we only have two days left here in Geneva! Right now I am in the Red Cross Museum. We came down here after a brief meeting with the President of the ICRC during which youth were able to ask questions. Our very own Aubin Dupree had a question but didn’t get to ask it. Overall we were disappointed with the questions asked as they were very broad and didn’t refer to the specific mission of the ICRC. Aubin will try to find the president later to ask his awesome question. The picture here is of the entrance to the museum and of the actual Geneva conventions. We are getting so much information; I will try to post up some great facts later.
Pat, Red Cross Museum, Geneva
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: geneva, ICRC, Museum | Leave a Comment »
Today marks the start of the new fiscal year and the American Red Cross is reflecting on the strides made this past year for the Disaster Relief Fund Campaign. The American Red Cross is pleased to announce that it has raised more than $110 million in money and in-kind contributions toward to the Disaster Relief Fund to pay for the many disasters of 2008.
Eight months ago the American Red Cross established a goal of raising a $100 million for the campaign and today we can be proud of the incredible accomplishment of exceeding this goal in such a short period of time.
Gail McGovern, our President and CEO, was thrilled to make this announcement today and only hopes to see more progress in the year to come.
“Turning our attention to where we are today, at the beginning of hurricane season and a new fiscal year, we must recognize that our work has only just begun. For example, while our deficit reduction efforts have produced results, we still have challenges to face. We still must meet our commitment to break even in fiscal year 2010. Furthermore, while we are in better shape than a year ago, the Red Cross spends more than $100 million on disaster response in a typical year, with even higher costs when there are more frequent or especially severe hurricanes.
We will be working on strategies for FY10 to build on all you have already accomplished in stabilizing our finances, and you will soon be hearing more from us on these plans.
Thank you again for all you’ve done–Red Crossers are the most amazing, caring and passionate people, and I feel so blessed to be part of this organization.”
- Gail McGovern
We know many of you contributed to reaching this goal through planning and participating in fundraisers for the Disaster Relief Fund at your own chapters and school clubs. Take this time to reflect and share your fundraising story. Maybe you had an event in support of the National Day of Giving on December 13th, during which more than $850,000 was raised for the fund – whatever your story may be, let it be heard and join the rest of the Red Cross family in celebration of this amazing organizational accomplishment.
Bianca Kahlenberg, Washington DC
Filed under: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
We have entered the Geneva suburbs and are walking toward the city center. We should arrive in about two hours, at 5 pm local time. We are being escorted by police and Red Cross ambulances and are generating lots of attention and questions. I’ll try to get some pictures posted soon!
Aubin Dupree, on the outskirts of Geneva
Filed under: International, Leadership | Tagged: journey of an idea, march to geneva, switzerland | 2 Comments »
Good afternoon America,
Most of you are just waking up but we have already been on the move for hours. Currently we are at an ICRC training facility eating lunch before our 3 hour trek into Geneva. I don’t know why but I am having trouble following up Aubin’s post from this morning. Lacking divine inspiration, I thought I would interview someone and share with you their thoughts.
What is your name and where are you from?
Ornwijit Chupetch, Bangkok, Thailand
How long and in what capacity do you serve in the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement?
4 years as a youth volunteer, she presents to and motivates youth to become part of the movement in Thailand.
What is your best project or opporunity for RC/RC youth in your society?
The campaign of Thai Red Cross embassadors, it aims to try gaining more youth volunteers through the extensive use of media like TV, radio, newspapers etc. She loves going talking to the public and leading a grassroots campaign.
What is your favorite American food?
Burger King, Wopper jr., the full one is too big.
What would you like to say to American Red Cross youth?
She would love to communicate with Red Cross youth and looks forward to some sort of exchange program. If you have any questions about the Thai Red Cross feel free to email her at: ontan_7910@hotmail.com
Thanks for reading! If there are any questions you have for another national society from Sri Lanka to Syria (and literally anything in between), leave a comment and I will find an answer.
Pat, Close to Geneva
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: geneva, journey of an idea, Thai red cross | 1 Comment »
It’s just after 10:00 in the morning here in Yverdon, Switzerland, and we are packing up and getting ready to start the final leg of the “Journey of an Idea” / March to Geneva. We will arrive in Geneva this afternoon, and on Thursday we will present the 2009 World Red Cross and Red Crescent Youth Declaration to officials from the United Nations, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Although we can’t tell you what the Declaration says yet, we will try to post it here as soon as it is officially delivered on Thursday. As a member of the Drafting Committee for the Declaration, I can tell you that we worked very seriously and diligently to ensure that all voices and opinions were heard, and to ensure that nothing was added to the Declaration which was not discussed and agreed upon by youth in the workshops at the World Youth Meeting last week. In other words, we think we can say that the Declaration is truly the united voice of all 50 million Red Cross and Red Crescent youth.
We have been walking toward Geneva for the last three days in a symbolic gesture. We youth have worked hard to identify the challenges we face, and the methods we want to use to address and fix those challenges (this is what happened at the World Youth Meeting last week). Now, to make sure our voice is heard, we have to deliver our conclusions (the “Declaration”) to the senior management and leaders of the entire Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. This is why we are going to Geneva.
This entire process only happens every ten years, which is why we are taking it so seriously and trying to make sure all of you are involved. The timing is also related to Strategy 2020, the overall planning and strategy document for the entire Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. So, what we youth say and decide here in Switzerland could and should have an effect on all youth programs and policies, all over the world, for the next ten years. This is why it is so important that everyone is involved.
Ok. Enough policy and theory for early in the morning! Last night, we were welcomed to the city of Yverdon by the local government and the local Red Cross office, and we were treated to a beautiful moonlight dinner cruise on the lake. One of the best parts of the March has been all of the informal time available to network and speak casually with all of the other youth leaders, because it’s actually the best way to develop working relationships and learn from one another. On the boat, we were able to network some more (at least, when the yodelers weren’t yodeling), and I’m really looking forward to more chances to speak and network during the walk today.
Last night, we stayed in an old Swiss military bunker hidden in the mountainside underneath a middle school, and this morning, we were serenaded by an alpine horn player at breakfast. I’ll post some pictures so you all can see what it’s like.
Inside our bunker
Aubin Dupree, Yverdon
Filed under: International, Leadership | Leave a Comment »
Good morning America! It is about 6AM on the east coast and I am excited that redcrossyouth.org and more specifically mine and Aubin’s journey is the first thing you check (I will forgive you if it is the second). We find ourselves a little better rested and well fed. We hopped onto the buses about 9AM and are right now walking through an unnamed town in the Swiss countryside. I can’t honestly tell you why they have chosen these towns for us to walk through but I am looking forward to it.
There were a few things I was considering blogging about this morning and as I was deciding, I struck up a conversation with a delegate from Ghana. It is incredible to me how similar the challenges are that we face in each of our national societies. He spoke about the structural challenges and how they have regional volunteer youth reps but no paid staff at their national office. I was speaking to him about grants and the strategies we have in place in America. He then began to tell me about his youth camp, so many ideas for NYI 2010!
We are both passionate about climate change and it was interesting to hear his ideas for implementation of all he has learned. I would go more into depth but typing on the blackberry is getting tiring. I asked him what he wanted to say to the American youth and he said “Americans are great people, they all have the Obama spirit of yes we can.” We concluded by talking about chocolate, which I found out is their largest export. It is quite amazing how just simply talking can bring up such unique ideas and points of view. I am looking forward to getting some awesome chocolate in the mail.
Pat, somewhere in Switzerland
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tagged: Ghana, journey of an idea, Red Cross, switzerland, walking | Leave a Comment »
As the first day of the March to Geneva draws to a close, we are sitting at a café in the center of the town of Sion, having coffee and ice cream, a treat after being up for the last 36 hours straight. Today has been a day of firsts for both of us: first time boarding a bus in the middle of a field in the Italian countryside at 4:30 AM, first time hiking in the Alps, first time seeing a Red Cross helicopter, first time seeing a helicopter full of chocolate, first time meeting the head of the Swiss Red Cross, and first time spending the night in a high school gym storage closet.
One thing is for sure, though, we are having an amazing time in Europe and we can’t wait to bring everything we are learning home to all of you. To be sure, we are having fun, but there is a lot more to our trip than just enjoyment. Not only are we helping to define the course of youth involvement in the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement for the next ten years, but also we are expanding our network, looking for new international exchange opportunities and keeping an eye out for ways to improve our existing youth programs and services.
Good night, and stay tuned because the March gets back on the road again tomorrow morning!
Aubin Dupree, Sion
Filed under: International, Leadership | Tagged: declaration, march to geneva, sion, swiss red cross, switzerland | Leave a Comment »
