Red Cross and Red Crescent Youth
About half of the volunteers of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are young people.
A special focus on young people is a crucial investment, not only for today but also for the future. The safety and protection of young people in vulnerable circumstances must be addressed, taking into account their age- and gender-specific needs.
In their multiple roles as contributors – and acknowledging their skills as innovators, inter-cultural ambassadors and peer-to-peer facilitators – young people are educated, enabled and empowered to be active in leading and participating in voluntary activities and in the governance, management and services of their National Societies. To this end, we use non-formal approaches as well as specific training and skills development. These are underpinned by dedicated youth networks and structures. We also encourage young people to continue membership as adults.
Young people bring much-needed skills when working alongside the increasing numbers of older people in a spirit of mutual respect. This is crucial to the intergenerational transfer of experience that is vital to both progress and stability in society.
IPE Newsletters
Learning, education and training
World First Aid Day
The IFRC is the largest first aid educator and provider in the world. In 2014, over 15 million people were trained in skills that could save lives in an emergency.
Red Cross and Red Crescent Day
Each year, 8 May – Henry Dunant’s birthday – gives us the chance to celebrate the amazing work of the Movement and its volunteers.
The Fundamental Principles
In a world with increasing isolation, tension and recourse to violence, it is clear that the Red Cross Red Crescent must champion the individual and community values which encourage respect for other human beings and a willingness to work together to find solutions to community problems.
Recent news stories
Gavin White, the IFRC’s disaster risk reduction and resilience coordinator for the MENA region shares his experiences from a school visit in Tripoli together with a team of Lebanese Red Cross volunteers.
Related documents
Youth Network is a dynamic interconnected support system. It provides a platform for youth to interact, meet and remain in communication for mutual understanding, service to humanity and capacity building. This system facilitates the sharing of experience and consequently peer support amongst youth in National Societies.
During the Regional Training Workshop on “Youth Engagement in the Field of Drug Abuse ” held in Malindi, Kenya from 8th to 12th May 2017, we the youth volunteers of RC/RC from Kenya, South Africa, Seychelles NSs became aware of the importance of engaging ourselves in the drug abuse issue that all the countries in the world are facing.
Navigating the muddy paths and hills of the Kutupalong settlement is a daily activity for 25 year old Bangladesh Red Crescent volunteer, Tamjid Hossen Naim. He and a group of two dozen other youth volunteers provide psychosocial support to newly arriving People from Rakhine State in northern Myanmar.
The PASSA Youth methodology has been enriched by expanding the range of tools for mapping, diagnosing and finding solutions, which can be useful and inspiring for participants of all ages and offer an increased potential for youth to reach out, connect and bring different stakeholders to the discussion.