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New Employee and Volunteer Orientation Participant Guide | Copyright 2006 by the American Red Cross 1 -1

Module 1: History

Key Points Notes

New Employee and

Volunteer Orientation

Module 1

Participant Guide

Module 1:

History

The Red Cross Story

Connections to the Red Cross Movement Fundamental Principles
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Module 1: History

Key Points Notes

IntroductionThis self-guided orientation is designed to assist newemployees and volunteers on their journey with theAmerican Red Cross.

New Employee and Volunteer Orientation consists of fourmodules. This is module:

Timeframe: 23 minutes

The participant guide is intended to highlight the key pointsof the material covered in the module, and be used asfuture reference material.

HistoryThe American Red Cross is an organization with a richpast and a dynamic futureit is the worlds leading hu-manitarian organization.

The module explores:

The history of the American Red Cross and itsprograms.

The purpose of the International Committee of the RedCross; the International Federation of Red Cross andRed Crescent Societies; and the National Societies.

The seven Fundamental Principles of the InternationalRed Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

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Module 1: History

Key Points Notes

The Red Cross StoryThe International Red Cross Movement began with HenriDunant, a Swiss businessman.

In 1859, Dunant witnessed the Battle of Solferino inNorthern Italy, in which 40,000 troops were killed orwounded, and left on the battlefield without help.

Dunant called for an international relief organization tobring aid to the war-injured.

This led to the birth of the International Committee ofthe Red Cross (ICRC) in 1863, in Geneva,

Switzerland.

This first committee adopted a red cross on a whitebackground as its emblem, the reverse of the Swissflag.

Dunants ideas spread throughout Europe and becamethe foundation for the minimal standard of conduct fornations of the world engaged in conflict.

In 1864, nations convened and adopted the first

Geneva Convention.

While Henri Dunant worked diligently in Europe, ClaraBarton, a former schoolteacher and government worker,spread a similar humanitarian message in the UnitedStates.

During the Civil War, Clara became famous for caringfor the wounded on the battlefield.

After the war, she learned about the Red CrossMovement.

On May 21, 1881, Clara and associates founded theAmerican Association of the Red Cross.


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Module 1: History

Key Points Notes

Connections to the Red Cross Movement

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent

Movement

The International Red Cross and the Red CrescentMovement refers to all the national and internationalorganizations allowed to use the Red Cross or RedCrescent emblem.

It is one of the largest humanitarian networks in theworld with a presence in almost every country.

All Red Cross and Red Crescent activities have onecentral purpose: To help those who suffer, without discrimination,

whether it is during conflict, in response to natural or

man-made disasters, or to alleviate the sufferingdue to conditions of poverty.

The Movement has several components:


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Module 1: History

Key Points Notes

The International Commit tee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Established in 1863, the ICRC is an impartial, neutraland independent organization.

Its mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victimsof war and internal violence, and to provide them withassistance.

The ICRC directs and coordinates international reliefactivities in situations of conflicts. Its activities include: Searching for missing persons. Exchanging messages to and from members of

separated families.

Helping establish hospital and security zones inembattled areas.

Organizing international aid programs; providingmedical assistance for refugees, displaced people,and other civilian victims of armed conflicts.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent

Societies

Founded in 1919, the Federation is a coalition ofindividual national societies. Currently, there are

approximately 180 member societies.

It coordinates relief efforts throughout the worldoccurring outside the theater of war and other forms ofarmed conflict. The Federations activities include: Organizing and coordinating international disaster

relief actions. Providing assistance to refugees outside areas of

conflict. Promoting national disaster preparedness programs. Strengthening the capacities of its member national

societies.

The American Red Cross works closely with the ICRC,the Federation and individual national societies to bringemergency relief to disaster victims, and improve basicliving conditions of those in chronically deprived areasof the world.


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Module 1: History

Key Points Notes

The National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Nearly every independent country in the world has achartered national society.

The national societies provide a range of servicesincluding: Disaster relief. Health and social programs. Assistance to people affected by war within their

own borders.

Individual societies cooperate with other nationalsocieties through the Federation and the ICRC on relief

and development projects.

They assist their governments in carrying out theirnations humanitarian treaty obligations.

Each country is allowed to charter only one Red Crossor Red Crescent society within its territory.

National societies use several emblems to indicate thatthey are part of the International Movement.

The Geneva Conventions recognize two emblems: thered cross and the red crescent (used in most Muslimcountries). The red shield of David emblem used byIsrael, while not in the Geneva Conventions, is also arespected emblem.

The International Conference

The highest decision-making body of the Movement isthe International Conference.

It meets on average every four years to ensure unityand to discuss and act upon humanitarian issues ofcommon interest.

The 1965 International Conference adopted theFundamental Principles that guide every aspect of theMovements work.

International

Federation of

Red Cross & Red

Crescent Societies


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Module 1: History

Key Points Notes

Fundamental Principles of the InternationalRed Cross and Red Crescent Movement

The Fundamental Principles of the International RedCross are the foundation of the work at the AmericanRed Cross.

All employees and volunteers are responsible for actingin accordance with the Fundamental Principles.

The commitment to the Fundamental Principles giveseveryone associated with the organization a commonpurpose, and inspiration to excel and behave in waysthat inspire the trust of the American people.

Humanity

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,born of a desire to bring assistance without discriminationto the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors, in its interna-tional and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate humansuffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protectlife and health and to ensure respect for the human being.It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperationand lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality

It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religiousbeliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve thesuffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs,and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality

In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, theMovement may not take sides in hostilities or engage atany time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or

ideological nature.

Independence

The Movement is independent. The national societies,while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their gov-ernments and subject to the laws of their respective coun-tries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they maybe able at all times to act in accordance with the principlesof the Movement.


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Module 1: History

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Voluntary Service

It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any man-ner by desire for gain.

Unity

There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Societyin any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry onits humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,in which all Societies have equal status and share equalresponsibilities and duties in helping each other, is world-

wide.

Next Steps Share with your family or friends something new that

youve learned about the Movement or the AmericanRed Cross.

Ask experienced employee or volunteer staff about thehistory of your Red Cross unit.

Resources The American Red Cross On-line Museum

http://www.redcross.org/museum/ History Timeline of the American Red Cross

http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/timeline.asp The International Committee of the Red Cross

http://www.icrc.org/ International Federation of Red Cross and Red

Crescent Societieshttp://www.ifrc.org/

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