The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, a dynamic humanitarian organization of choice in the country with structures from grassroots to national level successfully hosted a Regional Youth Camp at Mare Caravan Park in Nyanga from the 17^th to the 23^rd of October 2010. Participants to the workshops came from Southern African Countries like Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe as well as European countries like Britain, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. All these youths were representing their various Red Cross National Societies. This year’s regional Youth Camp was held under the theme “Mainstreaming Youth Volunteering in the 21^st Century” and was officially opened by the Governor and Resident Minister for Manicaland Province, Honourable Chris Mushowe.

The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Committee (IFRC) Country Head, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Deputy Head, the Nyanga District Administrator for Nyanga, government officials, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Body Chairman Mr Lemon Sigauke Shumba and his deputies as well as the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society Provincial Chairman for Manicaland also attended the official opening ceremony.

Through the 2010 Youth Camp, participants had a life time experience and an opportunity to share knowledge on how best they can involve themselves in humanitarian work and nation building in their respective countries. Youth camps have become a tradition within the Red Cross family as they bring together youth volunteers from across the country and beyond to share experiences and meaningful discussions on how they can horn their humanitarian interventions. The 2010 Regional Youth Camp is the second successive youth camp gathering coming after the 2009 National Youth Leaders Camp which was, from 11-17 October, at the same venue.

Red Cross Youths from different National Societies also managed to share what their National Societies are doing and to learn more about the International Red Cross movement’s humanitarian values. They were equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to address various humanitarian challenges facing the world today at the same time creating a platform for the youth to learn, share experiences and enhance leadership skills. Best practices were drawn and showcased with other national Societies outside the region.

Given that humanitarian challenges are not specific to a particular section of the world and that it takes a great sense of servitude and regard for humanity to address those needs, this Youth Camp facilitated a shared understanding of those challenges to better inform Red Cross efforts towards emancipating different communities the world over.

Through this Regional workshop, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society promoted a culture of oneness and working together as movement family, enabling Red Cross youths to learn more and get an in-depth understanding of the International Red Cross movement’s humanitarian values. Participants were also equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to be able to address various humanitarian challenges facing the world today at the same time creating a platform for the youth to learn, share experiences and enhance leadership skills.

Facilitators to the workshops included the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Zimbabwe Red Cross Society staff and other external facilitators like International Organisation for Migration (IOM), National Blood Services Zimbabwe and the National Aids Council among others who presented various packages on issues affecting youths. All the presentations were done with a view to empower the youths who form a greater percentage of Red Cross Volunteers the world over.

The topics during the camp meeting were crafted around areas of youth leadership, decision making, youth and blood donation, youth governance, youth policy, brainstorming and solution seeking to youth problems. Team building facilitators were also roped in to instil team building mentality and problem solving techniques in the youth. Various youth games and entertainment slots were also on offer but with an edutainment slant.

Of the Youth Camp, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society’s Secretary General Mrs Emma Kundishora said this will go a long way in entrenching youth involvement in Red Cross Humanitarian interventions. “The youths are the leaders of tomorrow and indeed today. Given that they form the majority of our volunteers and have the energy and will to support our vision we felt compelled to come up with such a uniquely packaged Youth Camp. Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has a unique vision to become a dynamic voluntary organisation which leads in the satisfaction of humanitarian needs and promoting human dignity of the most vulnerable groups. The youth are therefore strategically positioned to feed into that vision.”

The seven fundamental principles of the Red Cross Movement namely humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality also took centre stage as they inform Red Cross work the world over. Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has got a mission to provide timely and acceptable humanitarian services to the most vulnerable through well managed programmes in health and socials services, disaster management and organisational development. This is guided by the organisation’s core values of integrity and professionalism, transparency and accountability as well as commitment to serving humanity.

Of Zimbabwe Red Cross Society’s interventions in the country, the Governor and Resident Minister for Manicaland said the organisation has proved its mettle. “Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has immensely contributed to the social and economic well being of our people through complementing government efforts towards the same. The youths are an integral component of society and as Governor of the province I applaud Zimbabwe Red Cross Society for sparing a thought for the young in their programming. With a unique vision to become a dynamic voluntary organisation which leads in the satisfaction of humanitarian needs and promoting human dignity of the most vulnerable groups, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society has carved a niche for itself and will forever be etched in the annals of humanitarian intervention in Zimbabwe.”