BY STYLE CORRESPONDENT Kindness and humanity are among the most powerful tools withstand the harsh impact of food insecurity, climate change, Covid-19 and other crises and spark hope and change.
In a message to mark World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day today, Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) national president Edson Mlambo said: “Crisis and disaster have spared virtually no one in the past year and hit the most vulnerable, the hardest. Yet one never has to look far to find and be inspired by acts of kindness.”
On May 8, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement celebrates the dedication, compassion, courage and impact of millions of volunteers and countless others who offer help, care, and life-saving services to people in their communities.
This year’s commemorations are being held under the theme #BeHumanKind.
In Zimbabwe, Red Cross staff and volunteers have been supporting vulnerable populations in building stronger resilient communities through food security and livelihoods, water and sanitation, health and social services, disaster risk management, restoration and maintenance of family links as well as first aid and nurse aide training services.
“Big or small, seen or unseen, every act of kindness matters, brings hope and breeds more kindness,” said Mlambo.
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“Today, we pay tribute to all those individuals who selflessly help others in need.
“When all these small local actions multiply, the impacts can bee enormous.”
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is comprised of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and 192 National Societies with 14,9 million volunteers.
It’s estimated that one in every 524 people in the world is a Red Cross or Red Crescent volunteer.
Volunteers are Covid-19 first responders, working tirelessly to prevent the spread of the virus and support those most affected.
They are on the ground in disaster and conflict-hit places, checking in on neighbours and strangers, ushering them to safety and care, providing first aid and distributing essential supplies.
Volunteers are people who routinely put others first in the service of their communities.
Together, the Red Cross and Red Crescent reached 688 million people affected by disasters and other emergencies, 306 million with health services, 126 million with clean water and improved sanitation and facilitated 1,5 million phone and video calls between families separated by disaster, violence, conflict or quarantine, a call every minute of the year.
ZRCS secretary-general Elias Hwenga said: “In the worst situations, Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers remain lifelines to local communities, sometimes at risk to their own safety.”
“They remind us why we must invest in local action and nurture humanity and kindness.”
Mlambo added: “Every day, Red Cross and Red Crescent staff and volunteers see first-hand how kindness relieves suffering, brings comfort, lights up the darkest moments and restores dignity.”
“Amid so much hardship, loss and uncertainty, we encourage people around the world to believe in the power of kindness and to keep the kindness coming.”