Around 700 students from secondary schools in Huye district have just received skills on first aid. Disaster prevention was also on the training program organized by the Rwandan Red Cross (RRC).
These teenagers from 14 schools were introduced to humanitarian action including first aid and disaster prevention.
The beneficiaries say they are already ready to put into practice the knowledge acquired. Emmanuel Nkurunziza says they have acquired the know-how for disaster prevention in order to preserve property and human lives
“We have learned how to plant trees, how to fix the roof, how to draw anti-erosion barriers, how to collect rainwater, … We will put all this into practice with the support of our parents,” he promises.
Uwineza Yacinthe is now well equipped for emergency intervention. “I am now able to help my next accident victim, while waiting for him to be transferred to the hospital,” he says.
According to the director of communication and humanitarian diplomacy at the Rwandan Red Cross (RRC), Emmanuel Mazimpaka, this auxiliary organization of the state wants to create a culture of assistance to the vulnerable and disaster prevention among young people.
“We want to instill in young people the passion for disaster prevention and assistance to the needy,” he said.
According to him, in some schools groups of students have established Red Cross clubs to provide first aid for their classmates.
“We will continue to promote such groups and monitor their development so that they are established throughout the country,” said Emmanuel Mazimpaka.
For the vice-mayor in charge of social affairs development, Kankesha Annonciata, these trained youth should be focal points in humanitarian action.
The training of young people is not limited to secondary schools. It goes up to higher education. Private sector agents also benefit from such training as in hotels, for example.
It is also very important for the Rwandan Red Cross to train volunteers through the different districts. After their training, they can intervene with an ambulance in a public place where many people meet. They also transfer patients from the health center to the hospital.
This 3-day training was organized with the support of the Belgian Red Cross, Flanders community.
Gérard Rugambwa
