The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies worldwide, rely on volunteers from their communities to carry out their programmes. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

A Red Cross volunteers © Courtesy of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The International Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people; such as victims of natural disasters, refugees, people living in poverty as a result of socio-economic crises and victims of health emergencies.

The International Federation comprises 178 member Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. These National Societies act as auxiliaries to the public authorities of their own countries in the humanitarian field and provide a range of services such as disaster relief, health and social programmes and assistance to people affected by war.

Volunteers form the backbone of all Red Cross and Red Crescent activities. Together, the National Societies have 97 million members and volunteers - of these, an estimated 20 million people are active volunteers - and 300,000 employees. Together, they assist some 233 million beneficiaries each year.

For more details, please see the International Federation's web site http://www.ifrc.org/voluntee/

Become a Volunteer in Your Own Country National Societies recruit volunteers for all their activities to help vulnerable people. Each Society has different volunteer programmes, and requires people with different skills. To become a volunteer, please contact the nearest branch of the National Society in your country. Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies should be listed in local telephone books. Otherwise, the national contact details of your Society can be found at http://www.ifrc.org/address/directory.asp

The Red Cross / Crescent Societies depend on local volunteers © Courtesy of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

International Volunteers

The International Federation does not take on volunteers directly for its international operations, so there are no possibilities to be an international volunteer. This is due to the nature of the Federation's programmes, which are always run in cooperation with its National Societies.


Profiles of Red Cross and Red Crescent Volunteers (for more details, please see http://www.irfc.org/voluntee/profiles/index.asp)

Ahmad Najafi (Iranian Red Crescent Society). Mr Najafi has continually taken time out from his busy schedule as an actor and a film director to volunteer for the Iranian Red Crescent Society. His volunteer work has included a mission to Azerbaijan to assist displaced people, distributing relief items and providing psychological support to those traumatised by fighting.

© Courtesy of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Dr Satyanarayan Rao (Indian Red Cross). The efforts of this one man were the driving force behind the tremendous success of the Red Cross Mother and Child hospital and a school for the blind in Berhampur, a town in the state of Orissa, in India's east. Now 81 years old, Dr Rao works to help disabled people to overcome their disabilities.

© Courtesy of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Carlos Andrés Barreras Díaz (Colombian Red Cross). Carlos's work as a mountain rescue volunteer has helped save many people's lives. The 31-year-old, a Red Cross volunteer for 15 years, now helps build bridges to reunite isolated communities.

© Courtesy of International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

For more information please visit them at: http://www.ifrc.org

Source: International Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies

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