RED CROSS YOUTH
Red Cross Youth Office
3/F PRC Bldg. Bonifacio Drive, Port Area, Manila
Phone: 527-0000 loc 116 (Manager), 130 (Staff)
About
The Red Cross Youth is one of the six major services of
the Philippine Red Cross. Its mission is to educate
and empower the children and youth in the spirit of Red
Cross through constructive trainings and effective
leadership, and provide opportunities for directing and
harnessing their energy and idealism into worthwhile
humanitarian activities.
Major Objectives
1. Advocacy and inculcation of humanitarian 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 the Red Cross 7 fundamental principles
and IHL.
History
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.
Membership
Red Cross Youth Member - any youth who has paid the
annual membership dues for the Red Cross Youth.
Red Cross Youth Volunteer - a member of the Red Cross
Youth who has undergone basic orientation about the Red
Cross Youth and The Red Cross in general.
Categories of Membership
Junior Red Cross Youth (JRCY)
- In other organizations, one maybe considered a member
without paying any fee. In the Red Cross, the PRC considers
as members those who contribute to the fund campaign and
those who donate blood but their contribution are not
considered membership fee.
However, in the PRC Youth Program, one becomes a member
after paying the membership fee (at present, general
membership fee is P35.00). A JRC member may become a
volunteer at the same time but a volunteer can not become a
member unless he pays his membership fee.
The youth arm of the Philippine Red Cross has
always been registered under a class enrolment concept.
School authorities assist the Red Cross in the collection of
membership fee in school, but proper coordination and series
of meetings with DECS officials, teachers and even the
parents are to be done in order to the local Red Cross
chapters to have opportunities to explain the components of
the membership fee and where this goes.
Junior Red Cross members are elementary students whose
age ranges from 7 to 12. They are formed into school council
with the active JRC Adviser as their guide and adult leader
who facilitates and assist the council in recruiting,
organizing and training JRC members in the school or
institution.
Senior Red Cross Youth (SRCY)
- Originally, the Red Cross Youth High School belongs to the
JRC category of the Red Cross Youth Program. There was no
clear delineation of responsibilities nor with the
activities. The program of the high school students were the
same as that of the elementary students.
This caused a problem! The high school students are too
old for program being offered to the elementary students and
yet they are young for the activities being done by the
college students. And so, the need to reclassify the high
school students and create activities that suits their age
level was identified and addressed by the PRC.
In January 1995, the Board of Governor approved the
separation of the high school students from the JRC
category. With that, they would no longer be called JRC
members but instead Senior Red Cross Youth, a step higher
than the JRC and a step lower than the College RCYs.
College Red Cross Youth (CRCY)
- The Red Cross Program for college students was
approved by the Board on January 28, l969. Its primary aim
is to develop among the students the spirit of
humanitarianism and social service through active and direct
involvement in Red Cross activities.
According to information received by the Youth Bureau of
the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies, the Red Cross program has grown much wider partly
because new trends in educational methods favored
participation of young people in action, i.e. "learning
through action", and recently also in planning and decision
making and because young Red Cross members have gradually
become more than just recipients of direct educational
programs.
The Youth have identified themselves more and more with
the ideas of the Red Cross, through learning about its
principles and tasks. In view of this, they have become Red
Cross volunteers of the same value as the adult members, for
they come to the Red Cross not only to learn to get, but
also to actively participate in the life of the Red Cross,
to render services where needed.
Community Red Cross Youth (CommRCY)
- Red Cross offers services not only to those in
schools but also to the young professionals and community
based youth. The program for Community Red Cross Youth was
approved by the Board on July 20, l969. A Leadership
Training Course was adopted and patterned after the LEAD
(Leadership, Education, Ability, and Development) program of
San Pablo City. The aim is to train the youth to serve
themselves and their families through the Red Cross and use
their time by learning a trade for their livelihood.
This particular category of the youth program was known
before as the Out-of-School Red Cross Youth (OS-RCY).
However, in a Board meeting held on 5 October l993, it was
approved that there shall be a change in nomenclature: from
Out-of-School to Community Red Cross Youth. The proposal to
change came up due to the supposed negative connotation
being given to the term "OS-RCY".
Other Categories (by rank, specialization, or title)
-National Youth Council
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who are elected as coordinators
of their respective areas during the biennial national
gathering (National Youth Congress).
-Chapter Youth Council
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who are elected as coordinators
of the school councils within their respective chapter's
areas of jurisdiction.
-School/Community RCY Council
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who are elected as officers of
their respective school or community Red Cross Youth
Councils.
-National Trainer
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who has undergone and
successfully completed the Red Cross Youth National Trainers
Training. They are authorized by the Red Cross Youth to
conduct or facilitate the different Red Cross Youth Training
Courses.
-Leadership Trainer
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who has undergone and
successfully completed a Red Cross Youth Trainers Training
on Leadership. They are authorized by the Red Cross Youth to
conduct or facilitate the different Red Cross Youth
Leadership Training Courses.
-HAPE Educator
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who has undergone and
successfully completed an Educators Course for HIV – AIDS
Prevention and Education. They are authorized by the Red
Cross Youth to conduct a dissemination session on HIV – AIDS
Prevention and Education (HAPE).
-DAPE Educator
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who has undergone and
successfully completed an Educators Course for Drug Abuse
Prevention and Education. They are authorized by the Red
Cross Youth to conduct a dissemination session on Drug Abuse
Prevention and Education (DAPE).
-RCY IHL Disseminator
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who has undergone and
successfully completed the Training of Disseminators for IHL.
They are authorized by the Red Cross Youth and the IHL
Office to conduct a dissemination session on IHL in schools.
-RCY DRT Trainer
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who has undergone and
successfully completed a DRT Trainers Course. They are
authorized by the Red Cross Youth and the Disaster
Management Services to conduct Disaster Management Trainings
for the youth.
-RCY Debriefer
Red Cross Youth Volunteers who has undergone and
successfully completed a Critical Incidence Stress
Debriefers Course. They are authorized by the Red Cross
Youth and the Social Services to conduct Critical Incidence
Stress Debriefing for the youth. (CISD)
Programs & Services
Annual International Youth
Friendship
-Exchange Project is a youth cooperation project betwwen the
Japanese JRC/RCY Division and the Philippine Red Cross Youth Red Cross Youth Department involving selection
of vulnerable public elementary schools in the Philippines
and distribution by the Japanese RCY members of school
supplies to pupils and students, and sports equipment to
select schools. The school distribution is the entry point
for a more comprehensive program of youth interaction and
international exhange of correspondence between the two
societies, with intensified youth membership. The program
also involves the actual exchange of RCY members between
Japan and the Philippines through the annual "Mt. Fuji
International Youth Exchange" held every November.
Junior First Aiders' Program
-An institutionalized program with an exclusive
set of trainings activities for Junior Red Cross members
(elementary students) aims to develop or enhance the
potentials of Junior Red Cross Youth members to become good
leaders and train them on how to administer Basic First Aid.
The JFAP will also give them opportunity to practice
their learned knowledge and skills in their school clinics
through coordination of possible duty schedules with the
school administration.
National RCY Advisers' League
Conference
-A national biennial gathering of active and registered
Chapter Youth Council Advisers from the Philippine Red Cross Chapters nationwide, where they share experiences
and best practices among themselves and undertake, plan out
strategies and methodologies to further improve the
structure and performance of the Red Cross Youth Councils in
the shools and in the communities.
National Youth Council Meeting
-The Red Cross Youth Department, throuh the Manager, is
responsible in facilitating the regular and Executive
Council Meeting of the National Youth Council Officers. They
usually meet every quarter to discuss and plan for relevant
and productive National RCY activities.
National Youth Congress
-The highest deliberative body of the Red Cross Youth, which
is convened biennially with qualified chapter RCY officers
and members (15-25 years old) in attendance from all over
the country in order to discuss relevant strategies and
plans to continually intensify quality leadership among RCY
and develop youth programs for the future. The congress,
which is highly participatory, is designed to draw the
youth's interest in bringing out the best in them. The
Congress venue is selected alternately within Luzon, Visayas
and Mindanao islands.
Red Cross Youth Month
-A special time to make the public more aware of the Red
Cross Youth activities at the National Headquarters and in
the chapters. This month-long celebration is mainly designed
to intensify promotion of the RCY programs though the
tri-media with the active participation of the Red Cross
Youth Star Volunteers and motivate more and more young
people to join the Red Cross Youth organization. As
designated also on the Ten Most Outstanding Red Cross Youth
members from the chapters who excel in leadership and other
fields of humanitarian services.
Red Cross Youth Star Volunteers
-A special group of wholesome celebrity from the
entertainment industry screened by the Youth Committee. As
role models for the Red Cross Youth, these volunteers
undergo same qualifying trainings on leadership and commit
to promote and endorse the youth programs of the Red Cross
in tri-media, and support the fund generation initiatives of
NHQ and the chapters.
National Youth Camp
-Also known as the SuperCamp Philippines, is a 5-day camping
for Junior and Senior Red Cross Youth members (9 to 16 years
old) to enjoy the wonders of nature and enrichment of
teamwork experience through wholesome outdoor games and
other environment-friendly competitions, leadership
enhancement indoor sessions, and opinion-sharing over vital
youth issues.
Ten Most Outstanding Red Cross
Youth
-An annual search for outstanding Red Cross Youth volunteers
who have rendered unselfish service of excellence to the
Philippine Red Cross. It aims to recognize the
volunteers for their invaluable support and contributions to
the PRC through the Red Cross Youth Programs.
Most Outstanding Chapter Youth
Council
-A national recognition on how a Chapter Youth Council can
make a difference by way of providing service to, advocating
for, with the vulnerable people in the communities. The
general criteria of this award are: Impact of the different
projects to the community, participation of the youth/youth
mobilization, innovativeness/creativity or ability to use
technology, promotion of the 6 major services of the
Philippine Red Cross, Principles of Red Cross and
of the Red Cross Youth Objectives.
Youth Instructors' Training
Course
-A crucial youth activity participated in by RCY members
(17-25 years old) who wish to become Youth Instructors for
Leadership and are certified to capably conduct RCY
trainings such as Youth Volunteer Orientation Course,
Leadership Formation Course, Basic Leadership Training,
HIV/AIDS Prevention Education, Drug Abuse Prevention
Education and International Humanitarian Law - Children
Involved in Arm Conflict.
Pledge 25
-A project of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) - Red
Cross Youth Deparmtent (RCY) in support of the drive on
voluntary blood donation. It is a group of young blood
givers where members, after being motivated to become
voluntary blood donors, will pledge to regularly donate
blood 3 to 4 times a year starting the age of 18 until they
reach 25 years old. After this period, they will be joining
other blood donors' group as : Blood Galloners' Club of the
National Blood Services (NBS) for their regular and
continuous blood donation.
Training
Non-Instructors Courses
Youth Volunteer Orientation Course (YVOC)
-The course aim to acquaint the future volunteers with the
details of the Red Cross Movement and create pride on their
part for being involved in a worldwide Movement for
Humanity. If need be test the participants understanding by
creating activities wherein they have to show off their
knowledge on Red Cross Matters.
-Likewise, this course hinges on the idea that for us to
love the organization that we are in, we must know the
details of the organization in which we are part of. Thus
the Red Cross as well to be respected, people must first
understand what the Red Cross is. Respect press opposes
knowledge.
-This course is recommended to be discussed in all
categories of membership. However, in a trainer's course
prospective trainers must know and understand in details the
various facets of the Red Cross Movement.
Leadership Formation Course (LFC)
-The course aims to prepare youth participantsin becoming
full-fledged members through assessing ones strengths and
weaknesses, clarify and re-assesses their values and
integrating Red Cross Youth corporate values to further
increase leadership ideals.
The course also provide activities and group dynamics to
further increase social relations and understanding their
needs and interest that will motivate them, inherently.
HIV/AIDS Prevention Education
(HAPE)
-A basic dissemination course aimed to provide proper
education on the prevention of HIV and AIDS.
Drug Abuse Preventive Education
(DAPE)
-A basic dissemination course aimed to provide proper
education on the prevention of drug abuse.
Pledge 25 Donor Orientation
-This half-day orientation aims to provide basic information
about Pledge 25 and Voluntary Blood Donation of the
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) which focus on the
importance of blood donation and the role of youth blood
donors. Voluntary blood donation needs youth participation
and this orientation will be a valuable source of
information for potential blood donors especially for the
young.
Instructors Courses
-Youth Instructor's Training
-HAPE Educators Course
-DAPE Educators Course
-Leadership Development Program
-Pledge 25 Donor Recruiter
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