“Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are at the heart of effective humanitarian assistance for millions of vulnerable people. Volunteers are our strength; they are what defines us and what makes us a unique humanitarian force in the work of Red Cross. Millions of volunteers who give their time to make a difference to the lives of the world’s most vulnerable people in the name of the Red Cross and Red Crescent play an essential part in the support of their communities. Volunteering is an activity motivated by the free will of the person volunteering, not by any desire for material or financial gain or by external social, economic or political pressure. It is intended to benefit vulnerable people in their communities in accordance with the 7 fundamental principles of Red Cross”. (www.ifrc.org)

We have a strong volunteers system in the outer islands however; we need to promote our volunteer system here in Rarotonga. Although numerous volunteers appear in times of emergencies of which we are grateful to, we see the need to better prepare them before emergencies. This enables a rapid process of assigning duties rather than a rapid orientation in a disaster.
There are also other areas of Red Cross that volunteers can work in rather than just disasters.
Red Cross recruits volunteers irrespective of their background.If you are interested in volunteering for the Cook Islands Red Cross email Mata Hetland on matz@oyster.net.ck to register and for more details or call the office 22 598.

Although we are near the end of the cyclone season we must remain alert therefore orientation/trainings will continue.

 

 read more volunteers info