Dominica Red Cross celebrates International Volunteer Day

The Dominica Red Cross joins the rest of the world to observe International Volunteer Day today.

This day shines a spotlight on the selfless individuals who dedicate their time and effort to addressing global challenges such as poverty, education, health, climate change, and disaster relief.

President of the Dominica Red Cross Reginald Winston said 2024 has been one of the most challenging years on record for humanitarian staff for the International Red Cross.

“On today’s International Volunteer Day we honour the volunteers who lost their lives this year in service to others and we demand that they be protected as they carry out their life-saving duties,” he said.

Winston continued, “Today, on International Volunteer Day we celebrate Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers who are making a difference in people’s lives worldwide, but also in Dominica.”

Winston said every single day they give their all in services to humanity, even as they are themselves impacted by humanitarian crises.

“We say thank you to our Red Cross and Red Crescent Volunteers around the world, whether they are responding to earthquakes, cyclones, the climate crisis or to mass migration,” he stated. “Their commitment has been unwavering.”

He said the Dominica Red Cross will recommit to ensuring their protection so that they continue to perform their lifesaving work.

Winston added that Red Cross and Red Crescent Volunteers are the backbone of the International Federation Network (IFRC).

International Volunteer Day has been celebrated every December 5, since 1986. Almost a year earlier, on December 17, 1985, the UN General Assembly – one of the principal organs of the United Nations  – set the date for the day.