Photo of the Day: Today is National Lifejacket Day!

Today, May 16 is National Lifejacket Day! Pictured above, the members of the National First Aid, Swimming and Water Safety team model their lifejackets in Kelowna for National Lifejacket Day.

Did you know that 88 per cent of Canadians who drown are not wearing a lifejacket, or not wearing one properly? We know that lifejackets save lives, but do you use them the right way, all the time? Do you take your lifejacket off when the boat stops, when you’ve moving slowly, or if its nice out? Lifejackets come in many shapes and sizes, and they don’t have to interfere with your comfort, or your tan lines. Properly worn lifejackets save countless lives every year in Canada. As the long weekend approaches, remember to wear your lifejacket while participating in any activities on the water at your cottage or campground.

To learn more about lifejacket wear and boating safety visit the Canadian Red Cross website and don’t forget- as a part of National Lifejacket Day, you can enter to win a family pack of four lifejackets. Visit our contest page to find out how!

Photo of the Day: Harper Government announces CanadaSummer Jobs Initiative

 

Yesterday the Harper Government launched their 2013 CanadaSummer Jobs initiative. As a result of the initiative, 36,000 students will gain valuable work experience this summer. Dr. Kellie Leitch made the announcement yesterday on behalf of Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, at the Canadian Red Cross branch office in Ottawa.

To demonstrate the type of tangible work experience that youth gain through CanadaSummer Jobs, Dr.Leitch highlighted student positions that have been created at the Canadian Red Cross through this initiative. The initiative has allowed the Canadian Red Cross to hire hundreds of students from coast-to-coast in areas such as disaster response and community health.

Pictured above is Dr. Kellie Leitch accompanied by Mr. Conrad Sauvé, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Red Cross; Ms. Amy Mapara, Coordinator, Operations and Youth Engagement, and youth working with the Canadian Red Cross. 

 CanadaSummer Jobs provides students with the skills and experience they need to develop their career path, while also earning money for the upcoming school year.

Canadian Red Cross honours World Red Cross Day

Happy World Red Cross Day! May 8 was chosen as World Red Cross Day to honour the birthday of Henry Dunant, the Swiss founder of the Red Cross. 

Today the Canadian Red Cross honours World Red Cross Day by celebrating 150 years of humanitarian action by the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. 

Today we honour the important work being done by Red Cross Red Crescent societies worldwide and here at home. In the 150 years since the founding of the Red Cross, Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers and staff have supported more than 160 million people in emergency response, ranging from disaster to civil unrest.

Take a look at this video created by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that honours the work of all National Societies over the past 150 years.  To learn more about World Red Cross Day visit the IFRC or ICRC.

Tech Talk: All you need is Wi-Fi

As we all know, disasters can strike any time and anywhere, creating a sense of urgency for communities and individuals involved. Working in partnership with first responders, emergency managers and public officials, the Canadian Red Cross is able to respond to disasters by providing vital assistance to those affected. Shelter, food, water, clothing, family reunification, first aid, and help finding support, are all critical assistance that the Red Cross provides in the aftermath of an emergency and during times of recovery. But in the hyper-connected world that we live in, it has become increasingly evident to humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross, that one of the greatest needs is real-time information.

In the immediate aftermath of any disaster, people want to know the answers to questions. People impacted by disaster are not only concerned about basic necessities such as food and water, but rather how, when, and where they can access aid. Which is why Jim Garrow, who writes the Face of the Matter  blog says that access to wi-fi is a critical need for getting people on the road to recovery following a disaster. Here’s an excerpt from his blog:

People are looking for information, and humanitarian organizations can help. You see, in my title and call, I’m not asking for radio broadcasts. I’m asking for access, for a super fat pipe that can download and upload information. I think we’re in the midst of a radical change in how we do emergency response these days. It’s no longer just about saving lives, it’s about empowering survivors, too. By giving them the tools they need to be useful and helpful, we can not only hasten the changeover to recovery work, but also shorten the time needed for their personal recovery, for saving their lives later.

Jim’s perspective provides an interesting insight on the increasing need for information in emergency situations and how humanitarian organizations should be fulfilling this need. Take a look at his blog to read more about why access to wi-fi is important in emergency situations and let us know what you think!

Canadian Red Cross campaign selected as an Honouree for Webby Awards

We  have some exciting news!  It has just been announced our Canadian Red Cross December online gift campaign When You Give, We Give  was  selected as an honouree at the 2013 Webby Awards.  The development of this site was a collaborative effort between the Canadian Red Cross and our web agency partner, ecentricarts.  Along with six others, the campaign was chosen as an honouree as a part of the Corporate Social Responsibility Campaigns category. The Webby Awards is the leading international award honouring excellence on the Internet. We are thrilled to have our campaign recognized as one of the 17^th annual Webby Award honourees. Thanks to our friends at ecentricarts for helping us create this campaign!

 

Volunteer Spotlight: 12 years as a dedicated volunteer

This week, the Canadian Red Cross honours its volunteers during National Volunteer Week, April 21-27.

Christine Bussières has been a Disaster Management and First Aid volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross in Manicouagan for the past 12 years. When asked to summarize what it’s been like volunteering for 12 years with the Red Cross, she described her involvement as memorable.

Among her fondest memories of being a Red Cross volunteer, she mentions the friendships and laughs shared along the way with the team of amazing volunteers she’s had the opportunity to work with.

Christine’s work as a volunteer has allowed her to develop leadership skills while also providing her with professional development opportunities that have added value to her resume.

Christine continues to stay passionate and involved with the Red Cross because she knows that every one of her responses has made a difference in the lives of those she has helped.

“The Red Cross cares about its volunteers, and in the end, I believe that is the reason I am still a volunteer after 12 years.”

When Christine isn’t devoting her time as a volunteer she enjoys being outdoors, playing the piano and doing karate.

During National Volunteer Week, we want to thank Christine and the thousands of other volunteers just like her who help improve the lives of vulnerable people in our communities.

Find out how you can get involved by visiting our Volunteer Opportunities page!

Photo of the Day: Hope to Return Home

Volunteers at a food distribution centre at the Malian Red Cross headquarters in Sévaré in the region of Mopti.

As conflict in northern Mali has forced people from their homes, 600 people reside in a camp in Sévaré, a town in the region of Mopti. Thirty tents provided by the Mali Red Cross are now home to 70 families.  The crisis in northern Mali has displaced thousands of people, including more than 260,000 who have fled to safety in other parts of the country. Many have arrived in their new home on foot, donkey, or by truck. Most arrive with nothing. An estimated 40,000 people have sought refuge in the Mopti region, accepting assistance offered by host families or in camps. However, the assistance is not enough because they have already lost everything during the crisis. Returning home means they would be starting their lives all over again, with nothing. For now, those who have fled the conflict survive with the help of humanitarian agencies such as the Mali Red Cross who have provided food and essential items including tents, tarpaulins, mosquito nets, soap,  kitchen utensils, and medical care.

 

Photo of the Day: President of the International Committee of the Red Cross visits Ottawa

Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, pictured above with Conrad Sauve, Secretary General and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross.

President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Peter Maurer, was in Ottawa recently to visit with the Canadian Red Cross. During his visit he presented on today’s humanitarian challenges and discussed how we can best work together to address needs. Mr. Maurer succeeds Jakob Kellenberger and took office in July 2012. Mr. Maurer was Switzerland’s State secretary for foreign affairs and has been an ambassador for Switzerland, notably at the UN.

Photo of the Day: Celebrating 50 years of the Senegalese Red Cross

Today’s photo comes from Maya Helwani, a Canadian Red Cross delegate working as the operations manager in Senegal for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society’s Food Insecurity Emergency Appeal. The Canadian Red Cross has contributed close to $90,000 towards this appeal. Pictured above, on March 16, it was the Senegalese Red Cross Society’s 50^th anniversary. Female volunteers dressed Maya up in traditional clothing and there was a celebratory march. Maya is on a four month mission.

 

The Red Cross Round-up

The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.

Pictured above, families are still living in one of the camps that was set up after the Mozambique floods in January.

Mali: After the outbreak of the conflict in northern Mali, thousands of people were displaced within the country while others sought refuge in neighbouring countries. By the beginning of March, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR) estimated that more than 260,000 people are displaced in Mali, while more than 170,000 have fled to Burkina Faso, Mauritania and Niger. With the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross(ICRC), and partner National Societies, the Mali Red Cross is providing assistance. However, most families who have made it safely into southern Mali are now being hosted by other families who were already overwhelmed. Some houses have up to five families in them, meaning that the food that the Mali Red Cross is providing as assistance, is not sufficient.

Mozambique: In January 2013, floods tore through southern Mozambique, affecting close to 250,000; displacing more than 175,000 people in Gaza province alone. They were the worst floods to hit the country since the 2000 floods when more than 900 people died. Six weeks after floods tore through southern Mozambique, people are still living in camps without adequate shelter or assistance. The majority have since returned to their villages to pick up the pieces of their damaged lives, but in Chaqualene, the largest camp, 6,000 remain, unable to leave. The government is offering flood affected people free land outside the flood zone for rebuilding, however many are left with no money, leaving them in no position to return home and rebuild.