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In this issue:
- Guyana
- Aruba
- Curacao
- Dominica
- Jamaica
- Bahamas
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GUYANA
HEALTH
- In January, the Guyana Red Cross’ Lethem Branch conducted a Peer Educator’s refresher training at the Takatu Benab. During the training, nine Peer Educators were refreshed and five new Peer Educators were trained.
- The Red Cross organised a Teenage Pregnancy Awareness Sessions in the Mocha/Arcadia community. This session was held by the request of the reigning beauty queen of Mocha/Arcadia, as part of her community project to inform young people on the facts of teenage pregnancy and propose ways to prevent this social problem as it appears to be a trend in the community. Fifteen young people attended this session to learn about teen pregnancy, HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. There were also discussions on preventative measures to avoid teenage pregnancy. Handouts on abstinence and HIV and AIDS were given to each participant at the end of the session.
- In the Tiger Pond community, the village captain requested that the Red Cross show the HIV and AIDS documentary “A Closer Walk” be shown for community members so that they can have a better understanding of the epidemic. At the end of the show, the village captain pledged that his village would participate in any health programmes offered by the Red Cross.
- The Guyana Red Cross together with the American Red Cross held a three day training on psychosocial support for Red Cross staff, volunteers and community members. Twelve volunteers were also trained in psychosocial support.
BRANCH DEVELOPMENT
- The Guyana Red Cross held a workshop with staff from the branches in Mabaruma, Moruca and Lethem to discuss issues around branch development. Steps for the way forward were developed and the group agreed to meet again before July to evaluate progress.
YOUTH
- Peer Educators and students from the Karasabai Primary School, hosted a community concert at the school for 160 young people. Participants at the concert were treated to skits/role plays, poems, songs and dance portraying to the community, what the students had learnt during “Together We Can” (TWC) sessions. Prior to the start of the cultural items, the documentary “A Closer Walk” was shown. This had the attention of the entire audience as they had a first had look at how persons around the world were affected by HIV and AIDS.
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ARUBA
SIMULATION EXERCISE
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On February 14, the Aruba Red Cross held a simulation exercise. Only a few Red Cross leaders knew about this simulation, so that the volunteers, all having full time jobs, would be assessed on their readiness in the event of a real emergency. The accident simulated was a motor vehicle accident with ten victims. After the accident was reported at around 11.30 am, 24 volunteers came out in full work outfit at the Red Cross building where the quickly grabbed all the necessary equipment to respond. Forty-five minutes after the first emergency call they arrived fully equipped at the scene. The worked for about three hours and attended to all the victims who had different types of injuries. The training was a big success and proved that the aruba Red Cross was ready and able to respond to any disaster.
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DOMINICA
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
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Field activities for the DIPECHO VI project moved into high gear following the holiday season. Meetings were held with disaster committees of seven communities with baseline surveys and draft plans of action being drawn up for each community. Micro projects have been identified and assessments commenced. A Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) refresher training was provided to 20 participants including district development officers and their assistants whom will lend support to the project in their communities.
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A National Intervention Team (NIT) validation meetings was held in February and brought together disaster managers from all DIPECHO VI Red Cross Societies to review and validate material for the NOT manual. The meeting was facilitated with the support of the French Red Cross and the Caribbean Regional Representation Office of the international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (International Federation).
FUNDRAISING
INTERNSHIPS
MILESTONES
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A convergence of milestones in 2008 marked by the 50th anniversary of the Dominica Red Cross, the formal notification by government of its allocation of an annual subvention to the Red Cross together with its approval for the Red Cross to be declared an approved charity for tax purposes all served to provide cause, albeit over due, for celebration.
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BAHAMAS
FUNDRAISING
- The Bahamas Red Cross started off the year with a very intense fundraising drive. Their first activity was the annual Ball which was held in January. The Ball was very well attended and a significant sum of money was raised to help the Red Cross with its programmes. The Fair was held on March 8 and attracted many people, mostly youth who were interested in finding out about the Red Cross.
DISASTER MANAGEMENT
- The Bahamas Red Cross launched its first in a series of Vulnerability and Capacity Assessments in Long Island in February. This is part of its DIPECHO VI project.
- As a result from their response effort after Tropical Storm Noel on the island of Exuma, the Red Cross was invited to set up a centre in the city of Georgetown. The Red Cross hopes to provide a number of services from the centre to the residents of Exuma.
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CURACAO
MEETINGS
- On February 9, a meeting with the Red Cross presidents of Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao and Sint Maarten took place in Curacao. The main topic of discussion was the re-organisation of the Netherlands Red Cross which will all of the Overseas Branches. As a result a discussion paper was sent to the Netherlands and a representation of three people will attend a conference in April in the Netherlands to discuss the issue.
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JAMAICA
RECONSTRUCTION & REHABILITATION PROJECT
- The Jamaica Red Cross has completed the reconstruction of 41 houses and the retrofitting of 44 roofs in the parishes of St Catherine, Clarendon, St Elizabeth, St Thomas, Portland and Kingston and St Andrew. The Hurricane Dean Housing project is a collaboration between the French Red Cross and the Jamaica Red Cross and is jointly funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).
PARTNERSHIPS
- The president and director general of the Jamaica Red Cross attended a meeting with president of the Venezuelan Red Cross in January at which possibilities for future partnership were explored.
TRAINING/WORKSHOPS
- A First Aid Instructor Training was held in January at which eight volunteers were trained as First Aid Instructors.
- The HIV Global Alliance had invited non-governmental organization (NGOs) to submit proposals for funding of HIV projects. The Jamaica Red Cross submitted a proposal which was accepted and as a result, was invited to attend the orientation workshop for sub-grantees in the Caribbean HIV Alliance’s private sector HIV projects. The Red Cross’ acting director of HIV and Youth and its Finance Officer attended the workshop which was held in January in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
- A volunteer management workshop was held in February and over 20 participants were trained in the use of the volunteer management tool kit which was disseminated by the Caribbean Regional Representation Office. The workshop, which was facilitated by Marylee Ellis, the International Federation’s capacity building officer, also allowed for branch participants to continue working on their branch’s strategic plans with regards to volunteer management.
- The Jamaica Red Cross continued to respond to requests for First Aid/Ambulance coverage for major events. Over the period, coverage was provided for the official opening of the Half Way Tree Transportation Centre and the annual reggae show.
- The Early Childhood Commission has implemented regulations which require that all teachers from early childhood institutions be certified in first Aid and CPR. The Jamaica Red Cross, as one of the country’s leading First Aid training agency, conducted several courses for these institutions in January and February.
MEETINGS
- To ensure good quality control, maintenance of standards and constant monitoring and feedback, the various sections and committees of the Red Cross held numerous meetings geared towards reviewing last year’s activities and planning for this year. These included the HIV programme, the Emergency Services Section Council, the National Youth Presidents, the Link Patrons, the Centre Committee, the First Aid programme and the youth section council.
SPECIAL EVENTS
- The Jamaica Red Cross, in celebrating 60 years of service to the nation, launched its anniversary activities at a press conference in January. These include a volunteer recognition ceremony, a cultural extravaganza, a fundraising charity ball and the biennial General Assembly. The highlight of the year will be the conferring of a special humanitarian award to a person who is deemed by the Red Cross to have contributed significantly to the needs of the vulnerable. The award will be given at the charity ball.
- The Jamaica Red Cross participated in the Ministry of Education’s national Sexuality and Reproductive health Expo which was held at the National Arena, St Andrew in February. The Red Cross mounted a booth with displays, interactive and knowledge building sessions, condom demonstrations and give-a-ways. Some 3,000 students turned out at the expo and the booth was quite popular.
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