Volunteers 10

Normally, when someone loses everything they own in an apartment fire, the Canadian Red Cross Personal Disaster Assistance Team (PDAT) arrives on the scene with blankets and teddy bears to offer warmth and comfort. That’s how it worked before COVID-19.

For International Women’s Day, we’re taking another look at some of the amazing work being done by our staff, volunteers and delegates – it’s inspiring work, by women, for women, and for their communities.

For International Women’s Day (March 8), we’re sharing inspiring stories of women who work with us to help others. Hear from these amazing volunteers and their awe-inspiring experiences, in their own words. 

One member of the Far East Welfare Team was Jacqueline Van Campen, now a resident of Victoria, BC.  She was recruited by the Canadian Red Cross in 1953 when she was working on her Master of Social Work at Laval University. She spent a year in Japan and three months in Korea near the front, where she worked in various Maple Leaf Clubs. 

A fluffy friend in a time of need! Read how Red Cross teddy bears make a difference during disasters and emergencies. 

On January 8, a plane carrying 176 people, including 57 Canadians, crashed outside of Tehran, Iran. The loss of life is enormous, and the impact has been felt deeply by communities across the country. Among the deceased was Canadian Red Cross volunteer Mohammad Asadi Lari. Mohammad was passionate about making the world a better place, which was evident in all the incredible contributions he made to the Canadian Red Cross. 
 

Red Cross volunteer Ibtesam Eisa tells us about why she volunteers and what working with the Red Cross means to her. 

As we get ready in ring in 2020, we're reflecting on some events from the past decade that brought together international aid workers, inspired innovative solutions to complex challenges, and showed the amazing capacity for resilience humans have in the face of disasters.