Message from Cristina Bacalso, Chair, Youth Task Force, Canadian Red Cross
In June 2007, nearly 60 youth volunteers from all across Canada were asked to complete this simple phrase: “I want to live in a world where….” We were each given a t-shirt, red and white in typical Red Cross fashion. These 8 words were scribed on the front of the t-shirt, and on the back - a white, blank box. Youth were asked to fill this space with whatever they wanted - words, pictures, music lyrics - that would show how they would finish this sentence: “I want to live in a world where…” We were in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador for the 2007 Canadian Red Cross Youth Symposium - the first national youth gathering in almost 20 years. Youth from all corners of the country - different, ethnicities, languages and backgrounds - joined for one common purpose: to brainstorm how to improve youth engagement in the Society. Fast-forward a year and a half and here we are today: a Youth Engagement Strategy, drafted chiefly by youth volunteers, is in the consultation stage. National Working Groups, made up of youth volunteers across the country, are about to begin. And this website - the first ever Red Cross youth website - is just starting. I’ve been a Red Cross volunteer for over 5 years, first starting out with my campus Red Cross club and now, as Chair of the Youth Task Force. Our Task Force, made up of youth and non-youth volunteers from all four Zones are looking for ways to find youth volunteers and keep you actively engaged - as global citizens and leaders in the Red Cross and in your communities. For me, creating a world that I want to live in starts with a Canadian Red Cross that you want to be a part of. So let us know what you think. Be active. Mobilize the power of humanity – across the world and across the street. Create the world that you want to live in, now and into the future. Cristina Bacalso Check back regularly new features and news about a launch party are coming! |
