The Round-up offers a weekly sample of what our sister Red Cross Societies are working on around the world.
MYANMAR: The Myanmar Red
Cross Society operates with over 450 staff in 330 branches throughout the country. As the nation’s leading humanitarian organization, the Red Cross is operating in a dynamic economic and social environment that is rapidly changing every day. Myanmar’s doors have recently opened to the world and as a result, not only is civil society playing a stronger role, but there is increasing competition in the humanitarian world. From December 9-11, the Myanmar Red Cross Society hosted both Michael Raper, Director of Services and International Operations, and Vivian Schenker, head of Media and Communications from the Australian Red Cross, to run a joint workshop focusing on risk management. By the end of the workshop, participants set a framework for risk management. Top risks were identified, as well as controls required to bring each risk down to an acceptable level. All of this will be discussed with leadership during the Red Cross strategic planning session in 2015
CHINA: The Red Cross Society of China is managing a project to help low-income families start businesses and get out of poverty. The Livelihoods Support Project is part of the IFRC Sichuan earthquake recovery program, providing vocational and business training as well as access to financial resources through microcredit loans. The goal is to help earthquake survivors who have been relocated find new ways to earn an income. The small loan program targeted nearly 6,000 relocated farmers and people with disabilities. By the end of December 2014, 797 households (approximately 3,081 people) have received small loans, with 645 of these loans already re-paid by the borrowers.