“Volunteering Without Proper Youth Engagement Cannot Produce the Desired Results” – ERCS Secretary General
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) reviewed the performance of its regional branches during the 2018 E.C. fiscal year on the second day of its annual review and held discussions on the plan for the coming year.
W/o Kalkidan Admasu, Director of the Society’s Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Department, reported that during the fiscal year, the National Society mobilized more than 7.3 billion birr and utilized over 5.4 billion birr, reaching nearly 5 million people through its humanitarian and other services.
She added that the Society’s membership reached 7,516,108, while the number of volunteers reached 48,119 during the fiscal year.
In his closing remarks, Ato Abera Lulesa, Secretary General of ERCS, said the first year of the Society’s five-year strategic plan had largely been successful. He emphasized the need to give greater attention to youth, who will play a central role in shaping the future of the country and the National Society.
The Secretary General noted that members and volunteers are the pillars of the Society and stressed that, given Ethiopia’s predominantly young population, volunteerism without meaningful youth engagement cannot achieve the desired results.
He also called for greater efforts to develop professional volunteers and strengthen school Red Cross clubs as important platforms for engaging young people, promoting positive attitudes, and creating long-term humanitarian impact. He urged the Society to strengthen the establishment, awareness creation, and regular support of these clubs.
The 2019 E.C. budget and work plan was also presented and discussed during the review.
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