Red Cross Blogs

International Youth Camp (4) – Life member of the Kenya Red Cross

By Chris Jefferies
December 19, 2009 at 1:53 pm

Guest blogger: Amutha Rasapalan. In this post, Amutha winds up our week at the Kenya Red Cross International Youth Camp 2009.

Saturday was a humbling and emotional day. Firstly I became a life member of the Kenya Red Cross at Kwale branch. When I return to Kwale branch the first thing I will do is find the tree that I planted. That’s right, today is tree planting day or in Swahili – panda mti. Tree planting seems to be a key aspect of many African National Societies and I think an area that the wider Red Cross community could embrace. I work with young people on a daily basis. One aspect young people in the UK always wish to feel empowered on is climate change, however because of our fundamental principles we cannot actively campaign – could tree planting or water conservation be our avenue?

On the note of education, the rest of the day was spent helping to build a local secondary school. It was impressive to see all the young delegates in action! I’m glad it wasn’t me writing this risk assessment – some were on the roof hammering in structures, others were making cement, collecting water, building window frames, sweeping and digging foundations in the blistering heat. This was the point where I did step back and let a few tears roll down.

After all the discussions, debates, dramas and dances I was seeing all my new friends from different national societies work on the one goal of building a school for a vulnerable community. This really did embrace the theme of the camp: Partnership in Humanity.

Most of what I’ve shared with you as a guest blogger has been chronological. So I thought to end I’ll share just two of my highlights (if I shared more I’ll be here all day).

The first is the relationship between Red Cross staff and young volunteers. The relationship that the Kenya Red Cross staff had with their volunteers was magical and one I will always aspire to. Every staff member from the National Youth and Volunteer Manager to the Chairman of the National (and East Africa) Youth Council to local branch staff all seemed in harmony with their young people. There were no boundaries, no strained conflicts, not one cross word throughout the whole camp.

It was apparent how open the staff team was to criticisms and praise. Never did they seem to get offended but welcomed open discussion whether it was about national policy or the lunch menu to ensure everyone felt valued. I hope our young volunteers feel as comfortable to voice concern and praise with our staff as Kenyan volunteers do.

The second lasting impression I will take with me is the voices of the young people at the camp. The conversations I had with volunteers about their experiences of growing up during post election violence, the Sierra Leone civil war or the Rwanda genocide. These young volunteers are the future of humanitarianism. They used their traumatic experiences to build positive futures for others.

After witnessing the worst acts of humankind, these young people decided to take the path of Henry Dunant and empower themselves to change the world for the better. It has been such a privilege to be a part of the 2009 International Youth Camp. The impact that this week will have on me both professionally and personally will be lifelong, I now truly realise I am not just part of the British Red Cross but part of an international Movement of humanitarian citizens working under our fundamental principles.

So for one last time I shall sign off with my African name, but before I do I want to say a huge thanks to Chris for being a great Red Cross buddy in Kenya – you’re ace!

- Nanjala

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Tags: international youth camp, Kenya, kenya red cross, young people, young volunteers

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