Driven by the strong desire to promote the ideals of service to humanity through youth empowerment, the Red Cross Youth (RCY) conducted 2-day Council Management training from February 3 – 4, 2017 at Gabaldon Hall, Jose Rizal Memorial School. The participants were select 10 teacher-coordinators of Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) from ten clusters of SDO Calamba City.

In the opening statement of Mr. Frank Gray M. Sorromero, Chapter Administrator of RCY, he conveys to the participants the advocacy of the organization. “Isang malaking hamon at tungkulin nating lahat na panatilihin ang pagkakaisa, our calling is to cultivate in the mind and hearts of our youth the values of concern, responsibility and unity for without these, we might be running out of blood donations”. The RCY is one of the main services of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). It aims to educate and empower children and youth in the spirit of Red Cross through relevant training and effective leadership, and providing opportunities for directing and harnessing their energy and idealism into worthwhile humanitarian activities.

The training team composed of Mr. James Andrew T. Antoquia, Mr. Jojee Toy T. Juarez and Mr. Jeeno Jay C. Frani capsulize the Philippine Red Cross Services with the following principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service Universality and Unity. “Service is what you do to other people without expecting anything in return. It is purely gestures of goodwill” added Sir Frani as he delivers the synthesis during the first day. The second day was filled with more interactive discussion on Planning, Project Development and Management and Fund Raising Strategies. The day ends with very dynamic and enlivening team building activities which truly test their life-skills and uplift their enthusiasm.

-Randy D. Punzalan, SrEPS-PRU, DIO/Ariel Antonio, PDO II