Guest entry by Nicole Robicheau, Canadian Red Cross delegate deployed to the Philippines
Denyse had always wanted to do humanitarian work but the opportunity didn’t present itself until a few years ago, after she raised her two kids and the Canadian Red Cross began deploying psychosocial support delegates after the Haiti earthquake.
Haiti was Denyse’s first mission with the Red Cross. Since then she’s been back to Haiti a second time to provide psychosocial support during a cholera outbreak, and to Pakistan to provide that same support after a flood. Her latest deployment as a member of the
Emergency Response Unit (ERU) has taken her to the Philippines, to help out after
Typhoon Haiyan.
Denyse says that psychosocial support is really important after something as devastating as Typhoon Haiyan.
“It’s not tangible like a broken leg, but trauma, grief, loss, sadness and fear all have to be attended to.”
Denyse spent 20 years working as a social worker at a psychiatric hospital before retiring. Now she still works providing counselling for an employee assistance program and goes on mission with the Red Cross whenever she can. She strongly believes in the principles of the Red Cross.
“I’m proud to be a part of the Red Cross. Right away I felt like I fit in.”