Red Crescent workshop highlights volunteering [Archives:2004/725/Community]

Hassan Al-Zaidi
The three-day workshop, organized by Yemen Red Crescent Association in coordination with the Regional Office of the International Red Cross Committee, concluded on 29 March. The participants, representatives of various media apparatuses, laid down the strategic basis that would enable them and civil humanitarian organization leaders to carry out joint operations for the success of humanitarian voluntary work.
This workshop took place following the deficiency identified by one of the most active association in Yemen, the Red Crescent, in the effectiveness of information and various media means in their supporting role in finding and recruiting more committed volunteers.
Dr. Ali Al-Haify, Information Official at the Association said, “We focused through several lectures during the workshop on how to find common ground and to create a genuine partnership between the Association on one hand, and the various information corporations on the other, in addition to discussing the role of the media in presenting the humanitarian activities carried out by Red Crescent Association.
The working papers indicated problems between the media and Red Crescent. Mr. Abdulrahman Bagash pointed out that most people do not know anything about the Association and public awareness regarding voluntary work is non-existent due to the absence of contact between it and the media, as with many humanitarian organizations, of which there are nearly 4000.
Some statements of both officials focused on the problem of the cross symbol facing both organizations in dealing with the public. Due to the deficiency of public awareness, revealed also by representatives of various media organizations, when carrying out activities for the Association supported by the International Red Cross, the public sentiment is that the cross represents the Christian religion and the spread of Christianity.
While Dr. Abdullah Al-Khamesi confirmed that the sign serves protection as it indicates the membership of the crews during missions to rescue and transfer of victims of fighting and to gain respect. He reviewed the current international argument concerning the crescent and cross symbols, explaining that the cross is the Swiss national flag inverted and has nothing to do with the Christian religion.
Mr. Martin Amkheer, Chairman of the International Red Cross Mission, confirmed that the role of media means could contribute positively in clarifying this sign issue and in supporting the Red Crescent in motivating the enrollment of volunteers towards success of its missions.
The workshop and recommendations of participants:
The representatives of the various media organizations understood the need and the importance of the media to reach the workshop's objective. They drew a strategy through which they could contribute to the rise of voluntary work through the utilization of various media channels to close the gap between the public and the Association, and the importance of integrating with humanitarian concerns in the media. The official media particularly considers publishing the Association's important issues as revenue-raising advertisements.
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