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The value of our volunteersA study focusing on the value of volunteers mobilized in the Integrated Community Resilience (ICR) Program in ChinaRed Cross Society of China

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Yue DaifuProgram OfficerSichuan Branch, Red Cross Society of China

byLiu GuangjuHead of Project ManagementSichuan Branch, Red Cross Society of China

Yuan ChengOD Officer,IFRC East Asia Office

How we work

© International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Asia Pacific zone, Kuala Lumpur, 2014

Any part of this publication may be cited, copied, translated into other languages or adapted to meet local needs without prior permission from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, provided that the source is clearly stated. Requests for commercial reproduction should be directed to the IFRC at [email protected]

All photos used in this study are copyright of the IFRC unless otherwise indicated.

Cover photos: All photos are courtesy of the Red Cross Society of China.

Asia Pacific Zone office The Ampwalk, Suite 10.02 (North Block) 218 Jalan Ampang 50450, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: +60 3 9207 5700 Fax: +60 3 2161 0670 E-mail: [email protected]

P.O. Box 372CH-1211 Geneva 19SwitzerlandTelephone: +41 22 730 4222Telefax: +41 22 733 0395E-mail: [email protected] site: http://www.ifrc.org

Strategy 2020 voices the collective determination of the IFRC to move forward in tackling the major challenges that confront humanity in the next decade. Informed by the needs and vulnerabilities of the diverse communities with whom we work, as well as the basic rights and freedoms to which all are entitled, this strategy seeks to benefit all who look to Red Cross Red Crescent to help to build a more humane, dignified, and peaceful world.

Over the next ten years, the collective focus of the IFRC will be on achieving the following strategic aims:

1. Save lives, protect livelihoods, and strengthen recovery from disasters and crises

2. Enable healthy and safe living

3. Promote social inclusion and a culture of non-violence and peace

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

The value of our volunteersA study focusing on the value of volunteers mobilized in the Integrated Community

Resilience (ICR) Program in China | Red Cross Society of China

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Table of contents

Executive summary 2

1. Introduction 3

Methodology of the study, scope and limitations 3

Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) 3

Volunteering in the Red Cross Society of China 4

Red Cross Society of China – Sichuan Branch 4

The Beilu community at Jiu Liti, Jinniu District 5

Shenchan Village, Yanting County 5

2. The economic value of our volunteers 7

A. Total number of volunteering hours 7

B. Full-time staff equivalent of the total number of volunteering hours 7

C. Total volunteer investment 8

D. Total volunteer value 8

E. The VIVA ratio 10

F. Per capita cost and contribution 10

3. The social value of volunteering 12

The Voice of the beneficiaries 14

What other values does volunteering bring? 15

4. Conclusions 15

5. Recommendations 16

Acknowledgment 16

Lists of tables

Table 1: Total number of volunteer hours rendered by volunteers 7

Table 2: Total volunteer investment in 2014 8

Table 3: Total volunteer value 9

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The value of our volunteersA study focusing on the value of volunteers mobilized in the Integrated Community Resilience (ICR) Program in China | Red Cross Society of China

Executive summary

The Integrated Community Resilience (ICR) programme is implemented both at urban and rural communities by Red Cross Society of China. It aims to improve community governance, build community capacity and strengthen community development by engaging in disaster prevention and reduction programme, health promotion, livelihood development and dissemination of humanitarian values. The programme which started in 2011 now covers 21 provinces with 527 urban and rural communities. The volunteers have played a crucial role in the development of the programme. This study explores the social and economic values of the volunteers in the ICR programme. These volunteers are all from the urban and rural communities in Sichuan.

Key findings

Shengchan Village in Yanting County

1. Total number of beneficiaries reached: 956

2. Total number of volunteers mobilized: 176

3. Total number of volunteering hours spent: 45,848 hours

4. Number of volunteering hours spent by each volunteer: 261 hours

5. Number of full time paid staff needed for the total volunteering hours spent: 23

6. Total volunteer investment: 11,160 CNY

7. Total volunteer value: 414,000 CNY

8. VIVA ratio: 37:1

The Beilu community at Jiu Liti Jinniu District

1. Total number of beneficiaries reached: 19,280

2. Total number of volunteers mobilized: 300

3. Total number of volunteering hours spent: 57,600 hours

4. Number of volunteering hours spent by each volunteer: 192 hours

5. Number of full time paid staff needed for the total volunteering hours spent: 30

6. Total volunteer investment: 42,000 CNY

7. Total volunteer value: 1,080,000 CNY

8. VIVA ratio: 26:1

Recommendations1. Enhance emphasis on risk

assessment and complete the safeguard mechanism for volunteers.

2. Provide ample opportunities for volunteering for those trained on ToT

3. Build a long lasting motivation system.4. Conduct training needs assessment

for active volunteersFor full list of recommendations, turn to page 16.

At a glance!956 beneficiaries reached in 2014Total volunteer hours: 45,848Equivalent full time staff for the total number of volunteer hours: 23

Total volunteer value: 414,000 CNY

Investment: 11,160 CNY

VIVA ratio: 37:1

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Volunteers educating the public about disease prevention.

RCSC

1. Introduction

This is this is the first participation of the Red Cross Society of China in the Annual Value of Volunteers Study series. The study focuses on the Integrated Community Resilience Programme. The study aims to:

1. To determine the social and economic value brought by voluntary service

2. To explore sustainable ways to further improve and promote volunteer programme

3. To study the volunteers’ function by analyzing the different roles they have separately played at urban and rural communities.

It is aimed that through this study, the volunteering in the areas where the study is made will be further enhanced with the practical recommendations offered by the study. Methodology of the study, scope and limitations

This study uses desk review to get the information relating to volunteering hours and time rendered volunteering. In order to get the voices of the volunteers and the beneficiaries, interviews were made. This study includes the Beilu community at Jiu Liti, Jinniu District in Chengdu and the Shengchan Village in Yanting County, Mianyang. While a number of places in Sichuan have successfully implemented the ICR programme, it may be difficult to implement the same study in other places due to different situations and limitations in gathering information and details.

Red Cross Society of China (RCSC)

Founded over a century ago in 1904, the Red Cross Society of China (RCSC) is a unitary Red Cross organisation of the People’s Republic of China and a social relief and aid society that engages in humanitarian work. As a member of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, RCSC’s mission is to “promote the Red Cross spirit of Humanity, Fraternity and Dedication, protect human life and health, and advance the cause of peace and progress”. RCSC also takes the improvement of the lives of the most vulnerable people as its own responsibility.

RCSC has its headquarters and branches at different levels. Until 2014, RCSC has 31 provincial branches, 334 prefecture branches, 2,854 county branches, the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, one branch in the railway sector and two special branches in Hong Kong and Macau SARs.

For more information about the Red Cross Society of China and its services go to www.redcross.org.cn

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Volunteering in the Red Cross Society of China

To strengthen volunteer programme, Red Cross Society of China has organized its volunteers into 21 Emergency Response Teams (ERT) to conduct relief, medical treatment and psychological aid, etc., These ERTs were recognized for their outstanding achievements in their response during major events such as the Wenchuan earthquake, the Olympics and during the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of PRC.

Soon after the Wenchuan earthquake, RCSC embarked on the pilot work of the Integrated Community Resilience Programme at Sichuan and other five quake-affected provinces. Under the guidance of RCSC, the volunteers of urban and rural communities made tremendous contributions during the implementation. As the first batch of branch which implemented the ICR, RCSC Sichuan branch did a very good job in mobilizing volunteers.

Red Cross Society of China – Sichuan Branch

The Red Cross Society of Sichuan branch, founded in 1912, is one of the provincial branches of RCSC. Now, Sichuan branch has 21 prefectures (Autonomous prefecture) branches, 181 county-level branches, 6,024 grassroots organisations and 1.07 million RC members and volunteers.

Sichuan was the worst-hit area during the Wenchuan earthquake and became the center of reconstruction after the disaster. When the post-disaster reconstruction was completed, Sichuan branch embarked on the pilot work of the ICR programme by batches for the continuous community recovery. During the ICR implementation,

RCSC

RCSC

Volunteers on their way to do VCA in communities. Snapshot from one VCA site.

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Sichuan branch listened to the people and encouraged them to participate in the activities. Eventually RCSC recruited and organized volunteers at the grassroots level. Up to now, the Sichuan Model is still recognized by the whole nation. The ICR, meanwhile, continues to serve as a significant platform to gather humanitarian strength and carry out the core activities of Red Cross.

The Beilu community at Jiu Liti, Jinniu District

The place under study is a beautiful urban community with a total area of 0.65 square kilometers and a total population of 20,000, out of which 1,180 residents are over 60 and 45 are with disability. The ICR was implemented in 2011 to make a better community and to make people care more about each other and promote harmony, according to the vice president of Jinniu RC. The residents have set up a community service station for the registration and training of volunteers, as well as for the implementation of ICR programme. Today, there are 1,900 volunteers registered at the service station including the 330 regular volunteers who are actively participating in the different service activities. The volunteers were formed into seven teams to help the most vulnerable group including the elderly, the children and the disabled. To ensure well-managed volunteering activities, the ICR has standardized all procedures from volunteer recruitment, training, and issuance of ID service card to volunteer mobilization and participation. The volunteers were also expected to conclude every activity with evaluation and listing of lessons learnt. The people in the community have high respect to the ICR programme and to the volunteers for their hard work and dedication. The people are grateful for the benefits they are getting from the ICR programme and many are inspired to join the RCSC as volunteers.

Shenchan Village, Yanting County

Shenchan is a rural community. Here, the County branch planned carefully the project and made sure that the project goal and concepts were clear to the villagers before it started. The community was asked to recommend eight villagers to be the members of the project management group. The eight selected, two female and six male with youngest at 36 and oldest, 70 formed the first batch of volunteers or core volunteers. All the village cadres are members of the group Their duty is to coordinate relations and activities between the RC and villagers, local government and constructions group., They also had to assist in the publicity of the project, training of the community and supervision of the construction.

RCSC

First Aid training in a rural community.

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Prior to deployment, the County branch provided orientation and training to the management group on the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross, disaster preparedness and disaster risk reduction (DP&DRR), health promotion, project management and volunteer service. The management group in turn conducted the same training to the community. The county RC disseminated to the community the contributions of the volunteers and this inspired other community folks to become volunteers as well. They care more about each other, help the old and disabled, plant trees and protect environment. Now they are the best living examples of Humanity, Fraternity and Dedication. Volunteering through Red Cross bring people together towards a strong, safer and happier community The 956 villagers who are the ultimate beneficiaries of the project will have the RC spirit alive in their heart.

This study has taught us to pay close attention to the volunteer recruitment and volunteer team building.

1. Couple effect. The reason why someone volunteers is that his /her wife/husband volunteers first.

2. Adolescent effect. It’s necessary to carry out the volunteering activities in school. Once the students become volunteers, they will influence their parents greatly.

3. Senior effect. Absorb the highly respected person to be the volunteers as they will be a strong support force for the volunteering activities.

RCSC

Volunteers organize amateur performances to disseminate Red Cross values.

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2. The economic value of our volunteers

A. Total number of volunteering hours

Table 1. Total number of volunteering hours rendered by volunteers

Shengchan Village

B. Full-time staff equivalent of the total number of volunteering hours

Shengchan Village

In order to carry out the work of the 176 volunteers, the branch would need the equivalent of 23 full time personnel. This was computed as follows:

Beilu community at Jiu Liti

In order to carry out the work of the 300 volunteers, the branch would need the equivalent of 30 full time personnel. This was computed as follows:


Total number of Volunteers 176

Total number of Hours Rendered 45,848 hours

Total number of Volunteers 300

Total number of Hours Rendered 57,600 hours

Equivalent full time staff = Total volunteer hours/40 hours per week 48 weeks per year

= (45,848 hours/40) 48

= 23 staff

Equivalent full time staff = Total volunteer hours/40 hours per week 48 weeks per year

= (57,600 hours/40) 48

= 30 staff

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C. Total volunteer investment

Table 2. Total volunteer investment in 2014

Shengchan Village


Category of Expenditure

Cost Detail Amount (CNY) %

FoodExpenses on meals / snacks provided to volunteers

3,720 33.33%

TransportationTravel expenses made by volunteers to fulfil their duties.

660 5.91%

Equipment Equipment provided to volunteers 1,500 13.44%

Training ExpensesExpenses incurred for the technical trainings of volunteers as part of capacity building.

3,000 26.88%

AccommodationAccommodation for volunteers when they are mobilized

1,400 12.55%

Ssouvenir Present volunteer some souvenirs 800 7.89%

TOTAL 11,160 100%

Category of Expenditure

Cost Detail Amount (CNY) %

FoodExpenses on meals / snacks provided to volunteers

15,000 35.71%

TransportationTravel expenses made by volunteers to fulfil their duties.

7,500 17.86%

Training ExpensesExpenses incurred for the technical trainings of volunteers as part of capacity building.

15000 35.71%

Ssouvenir Present volunteer some souvenirs 4,500 10.71%

AccommodationAccommodation for volunteers when they are mobilized

1,400 12.55%

Ssouvenir Present volunteer some souvenirs 800 7.89%

TOTAL 42,000.00 100%

D. Total volunteer value

This study analyses the functions carried out by volunteers and time spent on each activity, and matches it to the equivalent paid work at the market wage. This produces an estimated amount – what the National Society would need to pay if it were hiring staff to carry out the same work. The table below presents the equivalent positions or paid works a volunteer is doing during the course of their duties:

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Equivalent paid job

Volunteer roles (and total time rendered volunteering for these roles)

Equivalent staff

Estimate salary per month

Number of months

Total Volunteer Value (2014)

Training 2760 1 1500 12 18,000

Community service

22036 11 1500 12 198,000

Engineering supervision

2880 2 1500 12 36,000

Dissemination 18172 9 1500 12 162,000

TOTAL 414,000

Equivalent paid job

Volunteer roles (and total time rendered volunteering for these roles)

Equivalent staff

Estimate salary per month

Number of months

Total Volunteer Value (2014)

Training 4,177 2 3000 12 72,000

Community service

31,248 16 3000 12 576,000

Dissemination 22,175 12 3000 12 432,000

TOTAL 1,080,000

Table 3. Total volunteer value

Shengchan Village

Beilu community at Jiu Lit

When implementing project or carrying out the volunteering activities in Shengchan village, the crucial point is to make villagers understand the project concepts, RC spirit, volunteer and volunteerism. The large proportion of the “left-behind” elderly and children have low-literacy so the County branch decided to recruit some middle aged ones with higher educational level to be the core volunteers first. County branch trained them and, when they are qualified enough to be teachers, they went back to their village to teach the others what they had learned at any time. The County branch leaves the teachers near villagers so villagers can learn the RC spirit in their daily life purposefully and automatically. The process of learning RC spirit is like erecting a building - block by block, brick by brick. Finally when the building is completed, its beauty is understood and appreciated. Now the village carries the volunteering activities under the guidance of RC spirit.

This is an aging society, In this urban society, there are 1,180 residents over 60, some of whom have been left alone feeling lonely and empty. To meet the needs of the elderly and other vulnerable group, the district branch set up the community service station for the implementation of ICR, in particular, to serve as bridge or meeting point between the beneficiaries and volunteers.

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Red Cross Volunteer demonstrating First Aid procedures.

HKRC

Using the values obtained during the VIVA exercise, we can reach the following calculation:

Shengchan Village + Beilu community at Jiu Liti

VIVA ratio = 414,000 + 1,080,000 11,160 + 42,000

= 1,494,000 53,160

= 28

VIVA ratio = Total volunteer value Total volunteer investment

E. The VIVA ratio

The VIVA ratio is computed using the formula:

The VIVA ratio calculation means that for every one Yuan spent on one volunteer, the local branch received 28 Yuan worth of value from services rendered by them.

F . Per capita costs and contributions

Calculations on the hours, value and expenditure for each volunteer

Shengchan Village

Per capita hours = Total number of volunteer hours Total number of volunteers

= 45,848 176

= 261 hours per volunteer

Per capita expenditure = Total volunteer investment Total number of volunteers

= 11,160 176

= 63 CNY

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Per capita hours = Total number of volunteer hours Total number of volunteers

= 57,600 300

= 192 hours per volunteer

Per capita expenditure = Total volunteer investment Total number of volunteers

= 42,000 300

= 140 CNY

Per capita value = Total volunteer value Total number of volunteers

= 1,080,000 300

= 3,600 hours per volunteer

Per capita value = Total volunteer value Total number of volunteers

= 414,000 176

= 2,352 hours per volunteer

RCSC

RCSC

Red Cross Medical Team in an Emergency Response Drill. Volunteers of the Medical Team.

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3. The social value of volunteering

To have a better understanding of the Sichuan volunteers’ role in the Integrated Community Resilience Programme, we choose 2 volunteers from the urban and rural communities.

We should build our community by our won hands.– Rukin Fu, Jiu Liti Jinniu District ”“

Rukun Fu, male, 45 years old with a college degree. He has undertaken the basic and foundation work for 32 years. Now he is the volunteer team leader at Jiu Liti community.

During the implementation of ICR, Rukun Fu encouraged all the residents to participate in the RC volunteering activities which included among others, first aid training and livelihood development. Many of the residents were there for the project every step of the way. He and his team completed the grassroots RC unit and set up nine volunteer service teams. For small communities without property management, Rukun Fu provided one volunteer to one small community service. For those with property management, he also provided one volunteer to 60 households’ service. Absolutely, it was very helpful and welcomed by the residents. Rukun Fu focused on setting up volunteer service platform and taking in those who are willing to help. The community service station which covers an area of over 30 square meters was established with the support gained by the ICR programme. It aims to recruit volunteers, accept donations, accept bailouts, and publicity center for RC knowledge and volunteering activities. It was also named the first batch of standard volunteer service station by the People’s government of Chengdu.

To attract more residents to participate in the volunteering activities, the RC volunteers went to the small communities to make themselves heard and understood by the residents. By doing that, a large number of residents went to the service station to register as volunteer. To date, we have 1,900 volunteers, over 20% of the total community population with 330 of them becoming RC members.

To create various kinds of volunteering activity platforms, currently existing volunteers are encouraged to guarantee support to target volunteers by providing them with basic instructions and skills. Selected volunteers will be further provided with training on first aid to be echoed to other residents of the community.

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Yalin Zhou, 38, female with a bachelor degree, from Japan and live in Japan for 11 years.

On March 2014, she headed to this community for some personal issues. Once she heard there are volunteers in the area, she signed up without any hesitation. The community director invited her to work here. The time she came here, she began to plan activities once or twice a week. After a period of time, she noticed that the elementary school students finished school at 3 pm and their parents are not available to pick them up not to mention discipline them. She advised the director on organizing the 4:30 pm school. But there was no extra money, so they asked the caring people for help on World Red-Cross Day. Eventually, they received 16,650 CNY. With the money, she invited a teacher from a nearby university to teach the children after school.. Actually, she and her colleague had to pick up the students up from two elementary schools each school day which was not easy as it took a lot of time. She is the head teacher of the 4:30 pm school and she accompanies the students for two hours. Now Kang, an American, volunteered to be the teacher to correct their pronunciation. If we have to hire a teacher like him, we would spend 400 CNY per class.

I did everything I could to help., Since I can speak Japanese, I carried out the voluntary activities not only in the community but also in other places in need. I took full advantage of my specialty to help others. I wanted to do something with great love, now my dream came true.

Da Lei, Chunxia Yan (couple). On October 2013, Chunxia Yan was elected to be the accountant of the management group. She also became a RC volunteer from that moment on. She participated in the training every time and she, together with other volunteers, carried out various voluntary activities in this way they called 1+x.

Da Lei, her husband, was against her so called volunteer career for she spent much more time outside than at home. However, Yan always brought him the publicity materials of RC, slowly but unexpectedly he began to change his mind until finally, he himself became a volunteer. He was really touched by the volunteer’s spirit.

After that, he actively participated in the voluntary activities and gave strong backing to his wife. He also asked to join the RC volunteer team. As a volunteer, he helped to put out fire, did farm work for the poor and cultivated land for the blind. He also devoted himself to do road repair.

I wanted to do something with great love. Now my dream came true. – Yalin Zhou, Beilu community at Jiu Liti Jinniu District, Chengdu”

“

I feel elated every time I help people. I deeply realize it means a lot to me. I have never been that happy.– Da Lei and Chunxia Yan (couple) in Shengchan Village in Yanting County, Mianyang

”

“

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The Voice of the beneficiaries

Place: Village in Yanting County Mianyang

Beneficiaries: Xiaolian Lei,

Xiaolian Lei, female, 68 years old, blind at the age of 2. But while she is blind, she has a good memory She could remember and recognize whoever helped her. “I used to fall a lot whenever it rained and I had to walk down the muddy roads undergoing repair. Now that the roads have been repaired, it’s like a gift for me. I know I would never fall.again”. The RC volunteers helped her to plow but she felt sorry for herself for bothering volunteers, so she decided to do something.. She believes that people should strive to become stronger to support themselves. Volunteers can help you once or twice or more, but they can’t always be there. To be of help to others, she always clean the road, She said, “to be a volunteer, I could do something for others. I could also make a difference”.

Place: The Beilu community at Jiu Liti Jinniu District in Chengdu

Beneficiaries: Grandma Feng, Yurong Liu

Zhizhu Guan, 65, a female volunteer in her community. The time she retired, she came to this community and tried to help others. Everyone loved her and regarded her as a mother. Her devotion to her voluntary service influenced her son who also became a volunteer later.

Guan and other volunteers frequently visited a resident who unfortunately got leukemia. The resident said,” I’m very grateful for their concerns and I feel I’m not alone.”

Yurong Liu, 49. lost her sight when she was 20. She said, “When I’m sick, Guan always comes to see me and she helps my daughter to receive education. I tell my disabled friends that I feel very comfortable living in this community because we are like families and we are one. We care about each other, we value each other.”

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What other values does volunteering bring?

1. The ICR has provided a platform and facilities for volunteer services, regulated the training and strengthened the volunteering programme..

2. Volunteering is the most effective tool to spread the spirit of Humanity, Fraternity and Dedication.

3. Volunteering taught the beneficiaries how to protect their life and health by carrying out various activities, such as first aid training, health promotion, medical aid and HIV/AIDS prevention and care.

4. By doing projects, volunteers are constantly learning from the project and from each other. They enhanced their awareness, and broadened insight which can give great benefit to future project.

4. Conclusions

The reason why the ICR could be implemented smoothly is that the volunteer groups have the active volunteering spirit, enthusiasm and commitment. With this, the ICR program has been able and will continue to make a difference in the life of the most vulnerable in the communities. We strongly conclude that:

1. Volunteerism is a vital strength that moves the project forward

2. Volunteers are important to ensure ICR sustainability and success

3. Volunteers and their voluntary activities enrich the impact of ICR

Red Cross Volunteer Providing Free Medical Check-up. Red Cross Volunteer Lecturing on Public Hygiene.

RCSC

RCSC

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5. Recommendations

To build a Red Cross home is just the first step. How to make the ICR work to serve people and how to constantly move the project forward to build RC project brands are issues we are thinking of. So we recommend:

1. Pay closer attention to TOT volunteers, train them and encourage them play their roles more extensively and effectively.

2. Build a long-lasting and effective motivation system

3. Training needs assessment for volunteers is a must, so they can do more in their volunteer service

4. Put more emphasis on risk assessment and complete the safeguard mechanism for volunteers.

5. VIVA study should include other areas with ICR programme for experience sharing and to have a more comprehensive conclusion on the value and role of volunteers

6. Share the study results with RCSC for its future volunteer recruitment, management and sustainable development.

7. Make it a reference for the volunteer programmes and policies

8. Conduct this study on other projects

Volunteers at a Project ToT Workshop.

Community-level Experience Sharing on ICR (Integrated Community Resilience) Program.

Aknowledgement

We would like to thank the project office in RCSC Sichuan branch, Humanity editorial department, the Beilu community at Jiu Liti Jinniu District in Chengdu, and the Shengchan Village in Yanting County Mianyang for helping us gather and edit all the information we needed. This is a huge project and very complicated. So without your help, we cannot make it. We are very grateful for your support and understanding.

RCSC

RCSC

Humanity The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality In order to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any 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 governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Voluntary service It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

The Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

For further information, please contact:

Red Cross Society of China

No 8 Beixinqiao Santiao DongchengEast City District100007 Beijing

Tel: (86) (10) 8402 5890Fax: (86) (10) 6402 9928Telex: 210244 CHNRC CNTelegram: HONGHUI BEIJINGEmail: [email protected]: www.redcross.org.cn

International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies Asia Pacific Zone

OD Volunteering and Youth UnitThe Ampwalk, Suite 10.02 (North Block)218 Jalan Ampang50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies

PO BOX 372CH-1211 Geneva 19SWITZERLAND

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