Establishment of the Red Cross Youth Councils and Training of Teachers in the Different Red Cross Services

The Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) is the foremost humanitarian organization in the country. Its mission is to bring timely, effective and compassionate humanitarian assistance to the most vulnerable without consideration of nationality, race, creed, gender, social status or political belief. One of its major services is the Red Cross Youth (RCY), which caters to children and youth aged 7 to 25 years old, by providing opportunities for directing and harnessing their energies and idealism into worthwhile humanitarian activities.
The Red Cross Youth (RCY) aims to :

1. inculcate humanitarian values;
2. instill the practice of healthy lifestyle;
3. enhance youth leadership skills through service delivery; and
4. advocate national/international friendship.
   

The major activities of the RCY are the following:

1. conduct of youth developmental trainings which inculcate humanitarian principles and values of Red Cross, i.e. promotion of youth volunteerism, formation of effective humanitarian leaders and fostering positive group efforts and activities;
2. promotion and practice of healthy lifestyle through HIV/AIDS and substance abuse prevention education, voluntary blood donation and road safety;
3. active participation of the youth in the protection of life through first aid/basic life support trainings, disaster risk reduction efforts and junior first alders' program, and community health activities;
4. upholding the culture of excellence, peace, non-violence and non-discrimination among children and youth through the different RCY camps, RCY olympics, national/ international exchange programs and gatherings and other friendship activities;
5. RCY advisers' development and participation in harnessing the humanitarian skills and values of the children and youth through the council management trainings and formation of local and national RCY Advisers' League; and
6. youth and volunteers' active involvement in Red Cross decision making process in the different levels of organization.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC) and the Department of Education (DepEd) was signed on February 14, 2008, when it was agreed that all public elementary and secondary schools must have an organized Red Cross Youth Council (RCYC) with at least one (1) adviser and forty three (43) youth members.

In this connection, all schools are encouraged to organize RCY Councils following their organization process and requirements and to appoint their teachers as RCYC Advisers who will undergo training under the PNRC.

These teachers are encouraged to be trained on the different Red Cross trainings such as First Aid, Basic Life Support (or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), and Disaster Management.

For more information, please visit Mr. Carlos Benigno S. Gallardo, Manager, Red Cross Youth at the PNRC National Headquarters located at the Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila or contact him at telephone no.: (02) 524-2101 or at mobile phone no.: (0918) 942-4272. - https://www.affordablecebu.com/