MISSION

Red Cross Youth is the youth program of the Philippine National Red Cross. Its mission is to educate children and youth in the spirit of Red Cross and provide opportunities for directing and harnessing their energy and idealism into worthwhile activities within the framework of the organization. 

OBJECTIVES OF THE RED CROSS YOUTH
 
1.   Advocacy and Inculcation of Moral Values and Character Building.

2.   Protection of Life and Promotion of Community Health

3.   Service and Solidarity

4.  National / International Friendship, Understanding and Education for Peace

5.   Dissemination of Red Cross Principles and International Humanitarian Law

BACKGROUND

HISTORICAL SURVEY

A proposal to associate young people with the Red Cross by the Ladies Committee of Monrovia was submitted to the Vth International Conference of the Red Cross in 1892.  This proposal was turned down which shows that it had to take time for this idea to gain grounds.   However, on national level, several successful attempts had been made to involve young people in Red Cross work. In the Netherlands during the Franco-Prussian War, school children made bandages out of old linen.  In Canada, during the Boer War, School children worked for Red Cross under the title Maple Leaf.  In the United States of America, children and young people helped the American Red Cross alleviate the suffering of the San Francisco earthquake victims.  All in a span of 36 years.

From the beginning of World War I in several countries, young people were involved in the efforts of the Red Cross to bring assistance to war victims.  By 1918, youth sections were organized in Canada, Australia, Italy and USA.

The creation of the former League and now International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 1919 and the increased emphasis on peacetime activities of the Red Cross that motivate the setting up of a coordinating body of national societies, contributed to a great extent to the rapid success and expansion of the youth program of the Red Cross.  In 1921, Youth sections were created in 8 more countries:  Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Great Britain, Hungary, New Zealand, Poland, Switzerland, and Yugoslavia.  This was followed the following year by France, Japan, Romania, and Sweden.

It was in 1922 that the Youth Program of the Red Cross was officially recognized and supported by Resolution No XVIII adopted by the General Council of the League of Red Cross Societies.  Finally, the Youth Bureau was created in 1923.

Expansion of the RCY Program to young people outside the schools or other than those attending educational institution were embodied in one of the General Councils` resolution. The  First  World  Conference  of  Educators was convened in Paris aimed at strengthening  the participation of the teaching profession in the young program of the Red  Cross and emphasized  the  supplementary  teaching  role of the Red  Cross in schools.   In 1935,  51 countries  had  JRC sections  with  a  total  membership of  15  million  with a  three  point program bringing the motto “I serve”.

Until such time during the Second Conference for the Educators which restated the three point program adding Dissemination of Red Cross Ideals and International Humanitarian Law as its fourth objective. Other pressing resolutions followed from then on to the present with the Board of Governors fully aware of the indispensability of young people within the movement.

BRIEF HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF RCY IN THE PHILIPPINES

When the Philippines Board became the chapter of the American Red Cross in 1917, it included Junior Red Cross (JRC - former name of the youth program) among its activities.  The Director  of Education (Now Secretary of Education, Culture and Sports) who was elected chairman of  JRC,  directed  the  work of  6,000  children  in  JRC  in  the  schools of  Manila.  JRC activities included the sewing of comfort articles and making surgical dressings for soldiers at war and planting vegetables in school gardens.

From 1922 until the outbreak of World War II in 1941, the JRC dental service became the major program with school children contributing 30 centavos each as their annual membership fee and in return they received an American JRC pin.  By 1941, there were 184 dental clinics all over the country.   A total of 898,333 children were inspected, 495,086 of which had defective teeth and 108,035 given treatment.

In October 1946, the JRC dental service was formally turned over to the government.   From then on, it has become an integral part of child health in the Philippines.

After the liberation, the first JRC enrolment campaign under the new Philippine Republic was conducted in October 1946. Enrolment of elementary school children in JRC was on a group basis. Schools join by class or section with a membership fee of PHP2.00 per class.

In 1948 the Philippine Junior Red Cross Magazine was published with Mrs. LORETO PARAS SULIT as Editor and at the same time Director of Junior Red Cross. Activities carried out in school were along the lines of health, service, and international friendship. The decade 1961-1970 recorded an increase in the JRC enrolment from 3 to 4 million members from 12,000 public and private elementary and secondary schools.

The adoption of the program for college student on January 28, 1969 solved the problem of young people who would want to continue serving through the Red Cross after graduation from high school. It aimed at developing the spirit of humanitarianism and social service through active and direct involvement in Red Cross activities.

Another new important program which was approved by the Board to include not only school children but also young people both in and out of school until 25 years of age. The change in name of the program from Junior Red Cross (JRC) to Red Cross Youth (RCY) was approved by the Board on March 31, 1970.