As a follower of the news (a result of my being a political science major in my life outside the Red Cross), I was very happy to see one of the morning blogs in Monday’s New York Times online talk about the role of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in response to the recent disasters in Myanmar, China and tornadoes in Missouri, Oklahoma and Georgia.

A recent Red Cross news release on the situation in Myanmar that was quoted in the article stated:

Local volunteers –- fluent in the local language, culture, and landscape –- can often be overlooked and considered dispensable. Time and time again, however, they are the ones on the front lines, saving lives, preventing diseases, and rebuilding communities after the wake of tragedy.

These incidents show one of the greatest strengths of every Red Cross society: diverse cadres of volunteers responding to help their fellow women and men in times of need. Youth and young adults are critical components of any local volunteer corps, and one of the ways the Red Cross responds to a nation’s communities is by reflecting its communities as much as possible.

This is also one of the best times possible for youth to engage their communities in responding to these disasters, whether in the form of raising funds for the International Response Fund that helps us respond to these and future disasters or cultivating awareness of disasters at home like the tornadoes or single-family home fires. Whether it’s through raising funds or responding to disasters at home and abroad, youth and young adults have a critical role to play in carrying out the Red Cross message of hope, comfort and volunteerism.

Justin Lam
Secretary, National Youth Council
Washington, DC

The Heartland Chapter (Omaha, Neb.) Youth Council celebrated 90 years of the Junior Red Cross by holding a spaghetti dinner, which raised $743 in support of their programs. The dinner was part of an open house at the chapter celebrating Red Cross Month. The evening included a Look Behind the Red Cross, a historical program developed by Council members.

Today the head of International Services sent out a message to national volunteers and staff about the incredible outpouring of support for the victims of the May 2nd cyclone in Myanmar. It was a warm, genuine letter to thank everyone for work on behalf of the international Red Cross movement, an important task that can easily be forgotten amid local Red Cross projects.

As youth, we traditionally play a large role in raising awareness in local communities and in raising money for various campaigns. Through the Measles Initiative, we have raised more than $500,000 through creative fundraisers around the country. We have spearheaded successful fundraisers for other international disasters, in Africa, Asia and elsewhere.

Whether or not you have done fundraising specific to this Myanmar cyclone, thank you, from all of us that work at the youth program, for your commitment to help people you have never met in countries and cultures you may never visit. It is precisely your work that embodies the fundamental principles of the international movement: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Keep up your amazing work!

Alisha Hay, a sixth grader at Hood River Middle School, decided this year on her 12th birthday to help her community. Earlier this year a fire destroyed a home in Hay’s neighborhood and she saw how the children that lived there were devastated because all of their things were gone. She asked her friends to bring a new stuffed animal to her birthday party instead of something for her. After she gathered all the stuffed animals from her friends and family, Alisha Hays donated them to the Oregon Mountain River Chapter (Bend) to give to child fire victims. Hay is a girl scout and has taken babysitting classes from the Red Cross.

American Red Cross of Central Florida (Orlando) Red Cross Teen Corps youth volunteers held a Knock Out Measles fundraiser—a car wash at Checkers Drive-in Restaurant. In addition to the car wash, youth sold measles pins for $2 each during March is Red Cross Month.

On President’s Day the Youth Council of the Wyoming Valley Chapter (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) trained 10 Youth Council members in First Aid and CPR/AED. Not only was the entire class comprised of youth, it was taught by two of the chapter’s trained youth health and safety volunteer instructors. The Day of Training will now be on the Youth Council calendar every year for new members and recertification of existing members.

Elizabeth Quintana, a 19 year old volunteer from Arlington, Virginia, was profiled recently as a part of National Volunteer Week. Between lobbying for the Red Cross, translating materials into Spanish, and working on the National Youth Institute, she sets a great example for the rest of us! Read the full text of her story here.

Thank you to everyone who submitted a design for the National Youth Council’s t-shirt design contest! We originally planned to notify the contest winner today; however, due to the overwhelming number of designs and their impressive quality, we need one more week to decide.  We expect to notify the winner on Friday, May 9th instead.  Stay tuned for more information.

If you can make it out to Saint Louis in late May, have $75 lying around somewhere, want to have a great time, and always thought that immersing yourself in interesting curricula for either new Red Crossers or seasoned volunteers was the best way to spend a weekend, well guess what?

You can do all of the above. Come join us at the National Youth Institute!

The registration deadline is only a week away. Check this page out for more information… see you next month in Saint Louis!

The American Red Cross of Central Florida (Orlando) reports that the American Red Cross Club at the University of Central Florida will be holding a Fight the Bite fundraiser to help eradicate measles and malaria. The club’s youth volunteers have pledged to raise $1,000 to help prevent the death of children around the globe caused by measles and malaria. The event will be held at Friendly’s Restaurant; the restaurant will donate a portion of the day’s sales to the club.