Red Cross Programs (Page 21)

David Fraser has been a disaster management and communications volunteer for more than 10 years, providing comfort in times of emergency for many Canadians. Recently, he received the highest honour as a volunteer, the Order of the Red Cross, for his dedication in going above and beyond to help others.

The school year has ended, but for students who are victims of bullying, often the problem doesn’t stop when they step away from the classroom. More than one in three Canadians say they have witnessed an act of cyberbullying, whether it was against someone they know or someone they don’t know.

Whether ensuring people are getting the equipment they need, or washing and maintaining returned equipment, the Red Cross Health Equipment Loan Program (HELP) relies on its volunteers.

Red Cross Societies around the world have been working with refugees displaced by violence and hardship. One Canadian Red Cross employee has a personal perspective on refugees – as he was once a refugee himself.

When Ryan Si was in Grade 10, he felt inspired to make a difference in his school community and help improve the lives of his peers. Now he is teaching workshops to his fellow students to help reduce bullying. 

Even before he left Iran, 22-year-old Mohammad H. Asadi Lari knew he wanted to volunteer with the Red Cross. Now the B.C. volunteer works with the Youth Advisory Committee to engage youth and young adults with international humanitarian work done by both the Red Cross and Canada as a whole.

A note to new or aspiring volunteers: “I know this volunteer position will be one of the most rewarding thing you’ve ever done. To help a fellow citizen in a time of disaster will make you feel unbelievably great.”

Where in the world did people receive help from the Movement in 2016? A new report published by IFRC can tell you exactly where. The report gathers data from 190 National Societies worldwide, and offers insights into humanitarian and societal trends such as spontaneous volunteering; how volunteer numbers rise and then stabilize following a major disaster, and how indicators are affected by sociodemographic factors such as population size and the Human Development Index.