Over a hundred and eighty National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world are today celebrating the birthday of their founder. Since its inception in the late 19th Century the International organization has spread over the years to all corners of the world with the aim to alleviate suffering. The Red Cross movement first became evident in Belize at the beginning of the 1900’s and as present Director General of the Belize Red Cross, Lily Bowman, tells us, it has been a presence that has had an impact.
Lily Bowman, Belize Red Cross Director General
“Every year we set aside this day; it is the birthday of our founder Henry Dunant, Swiss businessman who started the whole movement and today is his birthday and we have set this day aside to honor, to congratulate, to celebrate the work of the Red Cross all over the world and the work of all our volunteers.   Our mission is to alleviate suffering and to attend to the vulnerable population of the world, wherever suffering is we are there to assist to alleviate. Of course the core areas that we concentrate are in disaster management which includes preparation response and recovery and we are also heavily involved in health and caring communities through our First Aid program, our Home Nursing programs and the Home Care Givers program, and our HIV / AIDS prevention peer education program.”
Much of the Red Cross work in Belize is manifested during times of disasters such as hurricanes and floods. The most recent occasion when the society was out in full force was when Hurricane Dean brushed over the northern part of the country last year. But after some 94 years in the country, there are times when the national society is very much in need of assistance in the form of volunteers for the continuation of its many programs.
Lily Bowman, Belize Red Cross Director General
“The Red Cross movement in Belize has been evident since 1914 and this year will be 94 years that the movement has been in Belize.   In 1983 we were recognized as the Belize Red Cross and we were given our own act and since then we have been the Belize Red Cross performing in our own right.”
Arturo Cantun, Love FM
“What are some challenges the Red Cross faces in Belize and how is that the movement here in the country moving forward in addressing these issues in bettering the service to the people?”
Lily Bowman, Belize Red Cross Director General
“In every other walk of work there is always a problem when we have to work with volunteers and we know that the Red Cross movement, its backbone is volunteers and most of its work is dependent on volunteers.   We also have to raise funds for every single thing we do and sow e depend a lot on our donors and with the rising of new organizations popping out every now and then we have the competition getting thicker especially in Belize. With a small population the organizations tend to target the same donors and it has been a challenge for us raising funds and to keep our programs well financed. ; Most of the time we have to be looking for funding for these programs form outside the country and we have been very successful most of the time but we also need to look to our local community where our work is really being served for that assistance; but we do thank the hundreds that help us from year to year and we have some loyal donors that do assist us every single year and to them we are every grateful. I implore to everybody in the country of Belize at some point or the other to you know to give to Red Cross because you know that the Red Cross will always be ready and will always be ready to be the first person to serve.”
Patron of the Belize Red Cross, Governor General of Belize, Sir Colville Young, also spoke about the need for volunteers in order to continue the work of the National Society.
Governor General Sir Colville Young, Belize Red Cross Patron
“The Belize Red Cross, like all other National Societies, is guided by the seven fundamental principles; Humanity, Impartiality, Independence, Neutrality, Unity, Universality, and Voluntary Service. Recent events have shown us the importance that volunteers play in the movement.   When Belize was struck by hurricane Dean in August, 2007, it was the volunteers who mobilized and assisted with the organizations and management of relief efforts. It was volunteers who dedicated their time and energy, without desire for personal gain, to provide assistance to those most in need. We must continue to strengthen our connection with communities, while forming local and global alliance that will encourage peace, stability, health and social economic development.”
Presently the Belize Red Cross has registered about 12 hundred volunteers from across the country with over three hundred active members.   Over 90 million volunteers man the one 186 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world. Activities in commemoration of this international day were held this past Saturday with a parade through the streets of Belize City. The Red Cross also held its second annual radio-thon along with an open day. Nineteen volunteers graduated from the Home Care Givers program of the Red Cross. Bowman explained that the course that is offered twice a year is some fifty hours if training which covers different health and medical topics such as diabetes, hypertension, and HIV/AIDS.
Lily Bowman, Belize Red Cross Director General 
“Today we are graduating 19 participants and that is what we will be celebrating this evening at our Home Care Givers certificate ceremony. These participants are trained to assist professionals in health care clinics and hospitals and are trained to go into homes to help people who cannot help themselves and those who are bed ridden and who are confined to wheelchairs and to help their own loved ones at home. You know that many times the patients are released because there are not beds in hospitals and they need to go home and there is no one to care for them, well there is where these people are the ones that go the homes and do this kind of work and we are so proud of the work that we do and do this for the community.”
The graduation was held at the Belize City Lion’s Den this afternoon. Read More

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