Finnish Red Cross Youth Activities

1. Finnish Red Cross Youth Activities

2. Youth activity in the FRC • Based on values and principles of the organization • Aim is a more tolerant and multicultural world • Core functions of the organization: • first aid and preparedness • health and security • international activity and • humanitarian values • Finnish Red Cross does not have it’s own association for the youth. Instead the youth work actively inside the FRC in cooperation with the ”adults”.

3. Educational aims In the Red Cross children and youth will grow to values that honour life and diversity. • He/she is not afraid to speak up for good, he/she believes in actions of sympathy and to the power of presence • He/she has courage to help, speak up for people who are in need and to speak out – he/she has courage to be a human

4. Fewfacts.. The Finnish Red Cross was founded in 1877 540 local branches, active in almost every Finnish town and village 95 000 members 45 000 volunteers take part in Red Cross work every year 7000 youth members (youth members are between 0-29 years) Headquarters Organization, Volunteering and Youth Department, International Department 12 + 2 youth workers; one in every district + two at the HQ

5. Why do we need youth activity? To spread information on the Red Cross principles and humanitarian action to the youth To maintain and strengthen the organizational structure To offer youth a useful and meaningful hobby To help youth in the most vulnerable position To maintain the organization for the next 130 years

6. Forms of youth activities in the FRC • Clubs for kids • Youth Groups • Theme days and campaigns, short-term voluntary work • Friendshipactivities • International activities • Co-operation with schools • Camps • Other activities: youth magazine Spray, youth in governance

7. Reddie Kids Clubs • for 7-12 years old • lead by a trained youth leader • themes: Red Cross, first aid, and tolerance • These are organized in local branches

8. Youth Groups • for 13-29 years old • led by a trained youth leader • Action unit of the local branch • Participation in campaigns and theme days Themes: • Red Cross, IHL • First aid and health promotion • Diversity and tolerance

9. Camps for children and youth • Camps on different themes: • dissimilarity and tolerance • internationality • first aid • rescue service • Organized by local branches and districts • Participants also from other national societies

10. Youthfriendship action • Youth act as friends for otheryouth • Young adults as friends for elderlypeople • Short-termfriendship action • E.g. visitingretirementhomes • Cooperationwitheducationalinstitutions • Youth as beneficiaries for friendship action • E.g. emergencyyouthshelters

11. International activity • Groups of international activity • Camp exchange activity • Cooperation with other national societies • Projects in international activities and study trips • Youth delegate training • Organized mainly by headquarters and districts

12. Other activities • Youth member magazine Spray • magazine for Red Cross youth members aged 13-29 years • written, illustrated and photographed by young Red Cross volunteers • Published in www.spray.fi once a month • Positions of trust and organizational participation • at branch and district levels, nationally, internationally • chair of national youthcomittee is vicepresident of the Finnish Red Cross • workinggroups for e.g. new national youthstrategy

13. Youthwork Emergency youth shelters Help and support when things get difficult For people under the age of 19 and their families Many forms of support in building a future Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo, Tampere and Turku.

14. Finnish Red Cross Youth Activities

15. Youth activity in the FRC • Based on values and principles of the organization • Aim is a more tolerant and multicultural world • Core functions of the organization: • first aid and preparedness • health and security • international activity and • humanitarian values • Finnish Red Cross does not have it’s own association for the youth. Instead the youth work actively inside the FRC in cooperation with the ”adults”.

16. Educational aims In the Red Cross children and youth will grow to values that honour life and diversity. • He/she is not afraid to speak up for good, he/she believes in actions of sympathy and to the power of presence • He/she has courage to help, speak up for people who are in need and to speak out – he/she has courage to be a human

17. Fewfacts.. • The Finnish Red Cross was founded in 1877 • 540 local branches, active in almost every Finnish town and village • 95 000 members • 45 000 volunteers take part in Red Cross work every year • 7000 youth members (youth members are between 0-29 years) • Headquarters Organization, Volunteering and Youth Department, International Department • 12 + 2 youth workers; one in every district + two at the HQ

18. Why do we need youth activity? • To spread information on the Red Cross principles and humanitarian action to the youth • To maintain and strengthen the organizational structure • To offer youth a useful and meaningful hobby • To help youth in the most vulnerable position • To maintain the organization for the next 130 years

19. Forms of youth activities in the FRC • Clubs for kids • Youth Groups • Theme days and campaigns, short-term voluntary work • Friendshipactivities • International activities • Co-operation with schools • Camps • Other activities: youth magazine Spray, youth in governance

20. for 7-12 years old lead by a trained youth leader themes: Red Cross, first aid, and tolerance These are organized in local branches Reddie Kids Clubs

21. Youth Groups • for 13-29 years old • led by a trained youth leader • Action unit of the local branch • Participation in campaigns and theme days Themes: • Red Cross, IHL • First aid and health promotion • Diversity and tolerance

22. Camps for children and youth • Camps on different themes: • dissimilarity and tolerance • internationality • first aid • rescue service • Organized by local branches and districts • Participants also from other national societies

23. Youthfriendship action • Youth act as friends for otheryouth • Young adults as friends for elderlypeople • Short-termfriendship action • E.g. visitingretirementhomes • Cooperationwitheducationalinstitutions • Youth as beneficiaries for friendship action • E.g. emergencyyouthshelters

24. International activity • Groups of international activity • Camp exchange activity • Cooperation with other national societies • Projects in international activities and study trips • Youth delegate training • Organized mainly by headquarters and districts

25. Other activities • Youth member magazine Spray • magazine for Red Cross youth members aged 13-29 years • written, illustrated and photographed by young Red Cross volunteers • Published in www.spray.fi once a month • Positions of trust and organizational participation • at branch and district levels, nationally, internationally • chair of national youthcomittee is vicepresident of the Finnish Red Cross • workinggroups for e.g. new national youthstrategy

26. Youthwork • Emergency youth shelters • Help and support when things get difficult • For people under the age of 19 and their families • Many forms of support in building a future • Helsinki, Vantaa, Espoo, Tampere and Turku.