International Red Cross and Red Crescent youth opportunities
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One of the greatest benefits of being a Red Cross volunteer is the worldwide Red Cross and Red Crescent network. With IFRC member organizations in 186 countries, there are a number of international youth opportunities and events taking place around the world every month.
Background
The American Red Cross does not yet have a formal or official international youth travel or exchange program, as do some other Red Cross and Red Crescent societies (the German Red Cross youth exchange program is an excellent example; use Google Translate if you don’t speak German). Therefore, American Red Cross youth, young adults and young professionals who wish to undertake international Red Cross and Red Crescent activity must perform their own searches for events, camps, and exchanges, and participate on a private, individual and non-official basis. We hope to offer some official events at some point in the future, and we’ve included links to some of the most popular events below to help get you started.
Note that the American Red Cross does not participate in these events on an official basis, and cannot provide any logistical or financial support. Those who are under 18 should follow their Chapter’s guidelines on chaperones.
Events and opportunities
If you are thinking of participating in an international youth activity, or if you find an international Red Cross or Red Crescent youth event which is not listed here, please let us know so we can advertise the event to other youth!
International Red Cross and Red Crescent events usually have English as one of the official event languages. If you are concerned about language issues, please contact the event organizers.
Every summer, the Austrian Red Cross holds an international summer camp. Details are available on the Austrian Red Cross youth camp website (use Google Translate because it’s in German).
The Ghana Red Cross society typically holds a youth camp every year. For more information, contact the Ghana Red Cross Society directly.
Humanitarian Village and Fiaccolata
The Humanitarian Village is the largest annual, international Red Cross and Red Crescent youth event and takes place every summer in northern Italy. Open to all ages, it is a week of Red Cross and Red Crescent activities in a summer camp atmosphere. The camp ends with a grand torchlight procession in commemoration of Henri Dunant’s efforts to help wounded soldiers in 1859. There are typically a number of participants from the American Red Cross. For more information, you can follow Solferino 2010 on Facebook or visit the official website. There is also a redcrossyouth.org blog post which has information from 2009.
The Iceland Red Cross typically holds a youth camp every summer. For more information, contact the Iceland Red Cross directly.
Iceland Red Cross refugee simulation
The Iceland Red Cross holds a refugee simulation weekend once or twice a year, called “Á flótta”. You can follow the event on Facebook or visit the Iceland Red Cross Á flótta website (use Google Translate) for more information. This is a version of the “Youth on the Run” simulation described in more detail below.
The Swiss Red Cross runs an international youth camp every summer. Details are available on the camp website. You can also follow them on Facebook.
Do you know of any other international Red Cross and Red Crescent youth events? If so, please tell us so we can update this list.
For Red Cross and Red Crescent youth in other countries who are interesting in coming to the United States, the Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in San Francisco hosts an international exchange program every year. For more information, contact Sandy Tesch.
The Measles Initiative is an international American Red Cross effort to eradicate measles in developing countries. Youth across the United States have been involved in raising funds for measles vaccines. Did you know that it costs less than $1 to vaccinate a child against measles? For more information, visit the Measles Initiative website.
The American Red Cross provides an Introduction to Humanitarian Law (IHL) training program, as well as self-study guides about the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement (CrossNet link; login required). Suggestions for IHL training activities and promoting neutrality and tolerance are available on CrossNet, and more information is available in the IHL brochure.
Volunteers who are 18 and older may be interested in becoming an international family tracing caseworker. There is a self-study guide which can start you on the path to serve as international family tracing caseworkers at a Red Cross unit. International caseworkers play an important role in locating family, tracing loved ones, bridging communication gaps and reuniting families whose lives have been disrupted by war, political upheaval and natural disaster.
Does your Chapter have any international youth exchange programs? If so, please tell us so we can include details here.
Other international opportunities
The Raid Cross simulation was developed by the French and Belgian Red Cross societies to teach young people about the rules of war. You are welcome to run a Raid Cross simulation at your school or Chapter. For more information, read the article in the Magazine of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, or visit the official IFRC Raid Cross page.
“Youth on the Run” is a full day, 24-hour refugee simulation game for youth, originally developed by the Danish Red Cross Youth. The game’s purpose is to teach young people what it is like to flee a war-torn country and seek asylum somewhere else. Participants generally report that the experience is intense, serious, difficult, and fantastic, and it is highly recommended to any Chapter or school. You can get more information on the translated Danish Red Cross Unge på Flugt website (also available in the original Danish version) and news article (original Danish). Another version is available on the translated Iceland Red Cross Á flótta website (also available in the original Icelandic version) or on the Á flótta Facebook page.
Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) is a global youth education program run by the International Committee of the Red Cross. EHL teaches students of all ages about the rules of war and about the need to respect human life and dignity even in times of conflict. Versions of the EHL program are available for all age groups and in many different languages. An American version of the EHL program is also available.
Links
The youth page of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The youth page of the International Committee of the Red Cross
The 2009 Red Cross and Red Crescent Youth Declaration
The official IFRC youth events calendar
Questions? We’re here to help.
You can find public contact information for all member organizations of the Red Cross and Red Crescent movement in the IFRC youth directory.
If you have general questions about international youth events, questions about what to expect, what to bring, or networking with other participants, please contact Aubin Dupree.
If you have questions about official Red Cross policy, please contact the International Services department at National Headquarters (CrossNet link; login required).
Policy note
There is no official American Red Cross policy which prohibits American Red Cross volunteers from participating in international Red Cross and Red Crescent events on a private, non-official basis. Youth under 18 should follow their Chapter’s policy and guidance on chaperones.
[...] you have an itch to get involved internationally, you should check out our new International Opportunities page, where you can find information about Red Cross and Red Crescent youth events and youth camps [...]