The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Wednesday launched the ‘Red Million Movement’ in Islamabad to mobilise and train one million volunteers across the country, aiming to strengthen humanitarian response, disaster preparedness and community resilience through nationwide youth engagement and capacity-building initiatives.
PRCS launches ‘Red Million Movement’ to train one million volunteers
ISLAMABAD, Aug 06 (APP): The Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) on Wednesday launched the ‘Red Million Movement’ in Islamabad to mobilise and train one million volunteers across the country, aiming to strengthen humanitarian response, disaster preparedness and community resilience through nationwide youth engagement and capacity-building initiatives.
The nationwide campaign seeks to promote volunteerism and humanitarian values, particularly among young people, in line with the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
The launch ceremony, held at the PRCS National Headquarters, was attended by the heads of delegation of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the Norwegian Red Cross and the Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay), representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the German Red Cross, senior PRCS officials and youth volunteers from across the country.
Addressing the ceremony, PRCS Chairperson Mrs Farzhana Naek described the Red Million Movement as a landmark initiative aimed at building a nationwide network of trained volunteers capable of responding before, during and after emergencies.
She said the programme reflected PRCS’s commitment to serving vulnerable communities and called on citizens, particularly the youth, to become active partners in humanitarian work.
MS Naek said the initiative would focus not only on volunteer enrolment but also on continuous capacity building through National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) training and other specialised courses to develop a skilled volunteer force for future emergencies.
Chairperson PRCS thanked PRCS staff, Movement partners, educational institutions, government stakeholders, media organisations and volunteers for their continued support, urging Pakistanis to join the campaign and contribute to building a more resilient nation.
In his remarks, PRCS Secretary General Muhammad Abaidullah Khan said the Red Million Movement represented a national commitment to creating a network of one million trained and compassionate volunteers.
He credited the organisation’s leadership for promoting volunteerism as a lasting national value.
During the ceremony, volunteers reaffirmed their commitment to humanitarian service by taking the Volunteer Oath administered by Head of the Youth and Volunteer Department Mrs Misbah Mushtaq.
The PRCS chairperson formally launched the campaign in the presence of Movement partners and senior officials, marking the start of the nationwide volunteer mobilisation drive.
A documentary highlighting the contributions of PRCS volunteers in disaster response, emergency operations, climate resilience, public awareness and humanitarian services was also screened.
The event concluded with a live National Disaster Response Team (NDRT) simulation exercise demonstrating emergency coordination, rapid assessment, first aid, relief distribution, cash assistance, mobile health services and post-distribution monitoring.
The demonstration was widely appreciated by participants and international partners.
