The Canadian Red Cross, one of the largest non-profit organizations in the country, has numerous volunteers working domestically and abroad to provide relief services where they're needed most. Among the most important of Canadian Red Cross workers are its international aid delegates. These individuals work alongside the National Society partners to support local capacity in specific areas. Delegate missions may vary from one month to a year or more.
Recently, a team of 15 Canadian Red Cross delegates deployed to the Philippines in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan as part of a mobile field hospital to provide critical life-saving health services to hard-hit communities. Here are two of their stories.
Sandra's story
On Monday, November 11, at 6 p.m., Sandra Damota first heard about where she'd be spending the following month of her life. Over the next 24 hours, she received permission from her employers to take a leave from work, packed everything she would need, said goodbye to her family and friends, and then flew from Toronto to Ottawa. There, she was briefed on the situation in the Philippines and met 12 other Canadian delegates.
Because of her background as a social services case worker, Sandra has provided psychosocial support to those at the field hospital. She calls her work "psychological first aid" - ensuring that people who survive traumatic emergencies and disasters aren't just okay on the outside, but healing emotionally and mentally, as well.
"I hope that as part of the Red Cross team, I will be able to provide comfort, help people get back on their feet and give them a sense of hope," Sandra said.
Tamara's story
Tamara Bournival is uniquely qualified to be in the Philippines as a delegate supporting the Canadian Red Cross's Emergency Response Unit field hospital. She's not only in charge of medical logistics - which refers to the organization and inventory of field hospital supplies - she's the author of the official guidelines for the Canadian Red Cross. Medical logisticians are essential members of the ERU team, and Tamara is the best there is.
Alongside a history in pharmacy - including spending part of her career with the Canadian Forces - Tamara is a world traveler. In fact, it was her traveling experiences that inspired her to become a delegate.
"When I returned to Canada, I felt like I had to give back to the communities I had visited," she said. "When I saw the opportunity to join the Red Cross's field hospital team, I knew it was the right fit for me."
Visit the Canadian Red Cross website to learn about becoming an international aid delegate yourself. You can also help the people of the Philippines today by donating to the Canadian Red Cross Typhoon Haiyan Fund to help ensure that essential aid-providers, such as Sandra and Tamara, have the right resources to help those in need.