Fiji Red Cross Updates
 
Text Box: DONORS AID WITH STOCK REPLENISHMENT  Disaster Preparedness is the strength of the Fiji Red Cross. Having ready prepared relief items in pre-positioned containers around the country have allowed the Society to provide clean dry clothing, temporary shelter, water collection containers and other necessary items to victims within hours of a disaster. “Our ability to mobilise volunteers and staff to distribute these items is not something that we got to do overnight,’ says Director General Alison Cupit. “We have worked consistently hard over the years with donors to put this container programme in place because we can see the value of being able to carry out a response when it is most needed, that is within hours of people being affected,” she said. There are at present 22 containers, three mini-bulks and one main bulk located in various parts of the country and holding just over $600,000 worth of stock. The two recent cyclones and spell of flooding in the West has placed a demand on the Society in terms of provision of relief items to the affected which to date cost about FJD $100,000. And in recognition of the on going relief work conducted by the Society donors have this time, come to aid Fiji Red Cross. China Red Cross, NZAID, New Zealand Red Cross and AusAID have donated US$30,000, NZ$30,000, NZ$10,000 and AU$50,000 respectively. Director General Alison Cupit thanked all the donors for their timely gift, which will not only go towards replenishing relief items expended but also the repairs and maintenance of pre-positioned containers. “It is important that we remain in a constant state of readiness for the one big disaster which will most certainly put our response capabilities to the test,” she said. The often recited: “Disaster do happen. Are you prepared?” are not just words but rather a way of being for the Society.  
 

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Text Box: JOURNALISTS, POLICE GET TRAINED IN IHL On 19 January, five journalists and four police officers based in the West gathered at the Waterfront Hotel for a one-day workshop on Disaster and IHL (International Humanitarian Law). This is the second such workshop conducted by the Society for media practitioners in less than a year. The inclusion of police officers follows an agreement between the Society and the Fiji Police Force to include Dissemination of IHL into the various training provided at the Fiji Police Academy this year. The objectives of the workshop sought to achieve the following: 1. Introduction to the history and origins of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; 2. An introduction to the 7 Fundamental Principles and International Humanitarian Law; 3. Understanding the difference between the roles and responsibilities of the ICRC, The Federation and the National Society; 4. Introduction to the composition of the FRCS and its programmes; 5. Understanding the role of the Red Cross in disaster preparedness and response; 6. Creating an informed role for the media in disaster preparedness and response; and 7. Creating an informed role for the media in the dissemination of Laws and Fundamental Principles. Journalists and police officers have the most frequent points of contact with members of the public on any given day be it through media reports or directly at the community level when attending to reports. These two groups are also responsible for communicating messages to members of the public when it comes to emergency situations. “By educating both parties about the unique role that Fiji Red Cross has as an auxiliary entity to the public authorities, the media can then inform the public correctly about what the National Society does and the police can assist the Society with the response efforts on ground,” says Nitish Narayan, IHL Communications Officer. In the evaluation conducted at the end, the following are some of the comments put forward by the participants. “You guys have done a great job and we are so fortunate to have learnt about Red Cross, its aims, mission & information that we (media) are able to go out with to inform the people.”  “I really enjoyed this workshop. It taught me a lot about the role of Red Cross and how lucky we are to have this organization in our country. Also broadened my knowledge on disasters and how they are handled.”  “Attending this workshop has really encouraged me to look more deeper (sic) in regards to the function of ICRC, IFRC and FRC.”  “If our role as the media is to disseminate information (accurate), a partnership with the FRC is crucial also refresher courses would be good.”  “The workshop was informative of the National Society and the Movement as a whole. More workshops be convened associating other members of the community to cover larger scope of community as awareness.”  Meanwhile, the Society conducted its first IHL session with members of the Uniform Branch attending a two-week CID course at the academy. The one-hour session raised the interest of participants with many of them unaware of the exact role and work undertaken by the Society in the community until then. As an emergency response service themselves, the roles of the Society and that of Police in an emergency be it a natural disaster or a civil disturbance - are complimentary. Contents of the sessions include: The Origins of the Movement, the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law, the Fundamental Principles and the work of the National Society. The sessions are particularly useful for Police Officers planning on serving in any of the peacekeeping missions abroad in countries affected by internal armed conflict where knowledge of IHL is applicable. It is also applicable in the local context should ever a situation as that in 2000 crisis recur. This year, the Society expects to sensitise over 200 police officers with the view to training at least five instructors at the end of the year to deliver the programme from 2009 onwards. Text Box: GENE LEAVES TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION  It seemed that no sooner had Fiji Red Cross sent across relief items to devastated Cikobia in the aftermath of Daman at the end of last year, was the country in the grips of yet another cyclone. The National Task Force formed out of the Central Control Group estimate that the repair and rehabilitation bill for Tropical Cyclone Gene is in the vicinity of $40 million. Gene’s trail of destruction left much of the country’s infrastructure and agriculture in bad shape. It was fortunate that very few people lost their homes. The fact that this was only a category 1 cyclone would have had a lot to do with that. TC Daman on the other hand was a category 4. Cyclone Gene seemingly formed very quickly from almost nothing into a cyclone within hours. While many at work that Monday, 28 January, thought it would not happen. By nightfall raging winds and driving rain were experienced for a good six to eight hours before signs of calm could be felt by those in the path of the slow moving storm. Thousands of people were left without electricity and running water – some for as long as a week. In the aftermath, the debris from fallen trees served a reminder to many of just how powerful nature can be. The heavy rain that fell in most parts of Viti and Vanua Levu and nearby islands caused major flooding of rivers and low lying areas. The Red Cross Emergency Response Teams in the West, North and at National Office were placed on 24-hour standby as soon as the threat was obvious. Following Gene’s passing, assessments and distribution of relief supplies started to reach families assessed as worst affected. By the end of the first week immediately following Gene, our ERTs and branch volunteers in the affected areas of Nadi, Lautoka, Rakiraki, Labasa and Taveuni had assisted a total of 85 families. Text Box: WE THANK OUR DONORS The financial contribution of corporations to charities such as Fiji Red Cross is important in enabling us to continue working with the most vulnerable in the community. The Society currently runs programmes and activities in the area of Disaster Preparedness and Response, Health and Welfare, HIV and AIDS, Youth, Safety and International Humanitarian Law; through our 15 branches located on the two main islands as well as Levuka, Taveuni and Rotuma.  Despite a disappointing annual appeal last year, we note that the generosity of our regular donors – individuals and corporations alike – remains undiminished and we thank them sincerely for their continued support. We are also pleased that we have acquired three new donors into the Corporate level of gift giving as well last year. All donations made to this category are for non-disaster related purposes. For the 2007/2008 financial year, we recognise and thanked the following companies for their financial contribution to the work of Fiji Red Cross: Mobil Oil Fiji & Colonial  Gold Foster’s Group Pacific Limited, Fiji Gas Co. Ltd., & Bluescope Lysaght  Silver Air Terminal Services (Fiji) Ltd., Fiji Development Bank & CDP Services  Bronze Autocare Fiji Ltd., FINTEL & Kalidas Kasabia Memorial Trust To give the donors an account of what their donations helped achieve, Resource Development Manager Sylvia Low presented highlights of the Society’s achievements during 2007. The general response from those present was an appreciation for the Society’s work. In 2006, the Society had only three levels of donors – Gold, Silver and Bronze. For 2007, an additional tier was included – Platinum – for the high end donor. To qualify for either of these donor levels, the corporation must make the following donation: PLATINUM Cash donations of $10,000 or more. Donations in kind of goods/services valued at more than $20,000 is also acknowledged in this category. GOLD Cash donations of $5,000 to $9,999. Donations in kind of goods/services valued at $10,000 - $19,999 is also acknowledged in this category. SILVER Cash donations of $3,000 to 4,999. Donations in kind of goods/services valued at $5,000 to $9,999 is also acknowledged in this category. BRONZE Cash donations of $2,000 to $2,999. Donations in kind of goods/services valued at $3,000 to $4,999 is also acknowledged in this category.  All donations to the Society are 100% tax deductible. Text Box: REVISED CONSTITUTION ENDORSED, IN FORCE. The National Council unanimously passed the revised Constitution at a special meeting at Red Cross House in Suva on Saturday (16/02).  The 2008 Fiji Red Cross Constitution replaces the 1994 one. Revisions of National Society constitutions are a requirement every 10 years by the Joint ICRC/International Federation Commission for National Society Statutes (Joint Statutes Commission) in Geneva. The Joint Statutes Commission approved the revised document on 10 December last year. “Regularly revising the Constitution of a National Society is necessary for it to adapt to evolving challenges and circumstances and to ensure effective action in favour of the most vulnerable,”said Stephen Davey, Chairman of the JSC in a letter to National Board President Wylie Clarke.  A key feature of the 2008 document is the mandatory creation of a Finance Commission which has three members with the Board Treasurer as Chair. The Commission will replace the Physical Assets and Finance Committee. The other two members can be co-opted from outside of the organisation to be a part of the Commission. Other new features in the revised documents include a defined period for the election of officer holders to the various governing bodies within the Society such as the National Board and Branch Committees.  Where previously, AGMs for branches rotated office bearers every year through election, the new provision provides for the election of an executive group of six for a term of four years (on a staggered basis) and from the six there will be a President, Secretary, Treasurer and the like. At the end of four years, the branch member must stand down for a period of one year before he/she can qualify to stand for election for another period of four years before standing down permanently.  This provision now allows for growth in terms of a continuous rotation of new people, enthusiastic with ideas coming in to the branches. A similar provision also applies to the election of members to the National Board. At present, members of the National Board serve for three years, stand down for one year and then re-apply for endorsement of the National Council to serve on the Board for another three years. The 2008 Constitution also provides for the appointment through National Council, a Youth Commission member to serve on the National Board.Another new feature is the filling out of a Profiles document for each person seeking election or appointment to the branch committee and national board respectively. Following the meeting, working groups were created to begin discussions on the accompanying Rules of Procedure for the 2008 Constitution. Led by former Director General Susan Douglas, this consultative process is expected to continue over the next three months in time for the National Council AGM in May when a final document will be put forward for endorsement. The provisions of the 2008 Constitution comes into effect immediately with the current Rules of Procedure applied where practicable until the new one is passed. Also passed unanimously by the Council was the return to the annual Branch Levy instead of the targets set for the Door Knock Appeal. This follows a recommendation to the same by branches in the end of project review of the Capacity Building Fund last year. The branches now have until 31 August 2008 to pay in their levies.  The National Office will, however conduct a two-week National Appeal through a soft ask from 26 April to 10 May this year.                                                      

Text Box: BOEING DONATION The Fiji Red Cross received US$50,000 (FJD$75,000) from the Boeing Company on 3 March 2008. Mr. Craig Saddler, President, Boeing Australia, NZ and South Pacific was in Suva to present the cheque to the Fiji Red Cross national board president, Mr. Wylie Clarke. The donation will boost disaster response resources for the Society. In accepting the generous donation, Mr. Clarke said the money would go towards replenishing the disaster stock recently expended for cyclones Daman and Gene as well as the January flooding in the West. “Since mid-December last year, the Society has assisted more than 120 families affected by these disasters with relief items such as Black Packs, water containers, tarpaulins and cooking sets among other things at a cost of close to $100,000,” he said. “You can be assured that this gift will go towards replenishing what we have used these past few months. This gift certainly goes a long way towards assisting the Society’s disaster preparedness and response efforts.” Mr. Saddler said that Boeing’s donation is in support of the great work Air Pacific already does for the Fiji community. “Unfortunately, we cannot stop cyclones hitting the country but hopefully our donation can make a difference to those affected by them,” he said adding, that he was proud of Boeing’s long association with Air Pacific. His sentiments were echoed by Mr. Nalin Patel, who said, “As Chairman of Air Pacific, I would like to express our appreciation to the Boeing Company for their generous contribution to Fiji Red Cross.” “Air Pacific and the Boeing Company have a long association and I would like to commend the Boeing Company, its employees and the wider Boeing communities for their substantial support of Fiji Red Cross and other charities worldwide.”               NATIONAL YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONS Breaking Barriers was the theme for this year’s National Youth Day celebrations and in honour of that the Fiji Red Cross Youth volunteers sought to break barriers surround

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Text Box: NATIONAL YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONS Breaking Barriers was the theme for this year’s National Youth Day celebrations and in honour of that the Fiji Red Cross Youth volunteers sought to break barriers surrounding HIV and AIDS.  A march through Suva, Labasa and Lautoka on 7 March signalled the start of festivities and the participation of the Society’s youth volunteers was also in celebration of the valuable role they play in the work of Fiji Red Cross.  In Suva a themed march competition, information booths, performances by various youth groups and a music festival were the order of the day. Working with a variation of the theme, “Young people - breaking the barrier of silence on HIV/AIDS”,Suva branch youth volunteers, members of the FIT Red Cross YouthLink group and staff at National Office had a colourful display at Sukuna Park to show how FRCS youth volunteers contribute to building healthier communities. The Society’s information booth was also a huge hit with members of the general public. Throngs of school students and young people alike flocked to grab the available stickers, posters, pamphlets and volunteer registration forms. In Lautoka, the march followed by mural paintings, oratory contests, storytelling and performances by youth groups including a puppet show by the Lautoka branch FRCS volunteers also formed part of the West programme. In Labasa, the programme included a mini-exposition by employers, entertainment by youth groups and presentations by various government departments and organisations including the Fiji Red Cross Society. FRCS Youth Commissioner, Praneel Kumar, organised a poetry session for students of Penang Sangam High School in Rakiraki on Tuesday, 11 March.  Yes, young people are indeed a valuable asset to Fiji Red Cross and the various initiatives to showcase how FRCS Youth Volunteers are indeed breaking barriers in the various programmes they participate in marked a successful 2008 National Youth Day.

 

 

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