In the aftermath of an emergency, the sight of someone wearing a red vest is a sign that help has arrived. It’s a sign of hope and of comfort. In this podcast, you will meet the People in the Red Vest, people who have dedicated their lives to helping others. We talk with them about the complexities of today’s crises, the solutions, and what inspires them to keep going.
…
continue reading
1
Saving lives and saving the planet — all part of daily business for the Costa Rican Red Cross
34:08
34:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:08
Can Costa Rica’s largest ambulance fleet become completely carbon neutral? How can we better work with the forces of nature to protect our communities from natural calamities? Is it possible to save lives and save the planet at the same time? These are some of the questions that the first woman president of the Costa Rican Red Cross, Dyanne Marenco…
…
continue reading
1
Why the Ukraine conflict should change the way we respond to large-scale crises. A talk with IFRC’s former Ukraine operations manager Violaine des Rosiers
59:28
59:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:28
A 25-year veteran of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Violaine des Rosiers has served as an emergency response humanitarian worker in more than 30 countries, including Palestine, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon, Liberia and, most recently, Ukraine. In her home country of Canada, she also served as CEO of two social innovation organizations. With all these exp…
…
continue reading
1
Born in a refugee camp in Gaza, Mohammed Alburai became a double refugee when he sought safety for his family in Slovenia. Now he helps other refugees as a cultural mediator for the Slovenian Red Cross ...
51:46
51:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:46
Born in the Deir El-Balah refugee camp in Gaza, Mohammed Alburai worked as a volunteer ambulance driver for the Palestine Red Crescent before leaving for Slovenia in 2019. Now a cultural mediator and translator for the Slovenian Red Cross, Mohammed helps migrants and refugees cope with their new life in Slovenia. He helps migrants connect with lost…
…
continue reading
1
From dentist to humanitarian leader, Dr. Asha Mohammed’s passion and leadership now focused on Africa’s biggest challenges
45:11
45:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:11
Dr. Asha Mohammed began her career as a dentist in low-income communities in Kenya. Her passion for helping others and her evident leadership skills led her to key roles battling HiV/AIDS and, eventually, to the role of Secretary General of the Kenya Red Cross. She now serves as IFRC’s Permanent Representative to the African Union and International…
…
continue reading
1
With climate change posing an existential threat to many cultures and communities, it’s time to take the mental health fallout a lot more seriously
49:29
49:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:29
Eco-anxiety is a relatively new term in the lexicon of psychology, but it’s gaining more attention. In a world facing an existential threat from climate change — and many communities already facing tremendous upheaval — the mental health impacts of climate change are impossible to ignore. People who rely on farming, fishing, or whose cultures are c…
…
continue reading
1
Part 2 of our interview with the first person to visit every country in the world without flying. The humanity of volunteers helped keep me going.
35:46
35:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:46
Torbjørn ‘Thor’ C. Pedersen not only travelled to every country in the world without flying. He also visited nearly every National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society in the world and wrote stories for his travel blog about their response to a staggering variety of humanitarian challenges. “My motivation to continue and not give up came from differe…
…
continue reading
1
He went to every country in the world without flying. His key takeaway: forget the headlines, people are good.
35:00
35:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:00
Part 1 of our interview with Torbjørn ‘Thor’ C. Pedersen, the first person to visit every country in the world without ever taking an airplane. But that’s not his only distinction. He also visited nearly every National Red Cross and Red Crescent Society in the world and wrote stories for his travel blog about their response to a staggering variety …
…
continue reading
1
‘Regardless of culture, country, creed, language or religion’ — The first woman president of the Turkish Red Crescent Society talks about the big humanitarian challenges ahead and how to ensure all people ...
44:14
44:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:14
As the first female president of the Turkish Red Crescent, Dr. Fatma Meriç Yilmaz talks about her National Society’s role in supporting one of the world’s largest refugee populations and in running the world’s most ambitious humanitarian cash assistance programmes. She also discusses the continuing impacts from the earthquake that struck Türkiye an…
…
continue reading
1
Local communities and youth must drive the global climate change agenda says IFRC climate champion
34:17
34:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:17
Ani Gevorgyan’s life as a humanitarian began when she was 14 years old and she signed up to bring joy, art and activity into the lives of refugee children. Two years later, the young volunteer for the Armenian Red Cross was organizing “eco-runs” in which people combined physical activity with environmental clean ups. Now, as an IFRC Climate Champio…
…
continue reading
1
Humanitarian leaders talk about how far we’ve come in gender equity and the gaps that remain
34:08
34:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:08
Special International Women's Day episode: Kate Forbes, the newly elected president of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies joins the organization’s Secretary General Jagan Chapagain in a wide-ranging conversation about the critical importance of gender equity in humanitarian action. They look at how far the humanita…
…
continue reading
1
Two years into the escalation of conflict in Ukraine, ‘we have helped 18 million people’ thanks to our neutrality - Episode 2, Season 2 / People in the Red Vest
37:06
37:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:06
IFRC’s regional director for Europe talks about the conflict that has impacted not just the European continent, but the entire world. Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen explains how the principle of neutrality — along with an inspiring level of humanitarian solidarity — has helped the IFRC assist some 18 million people impacted by the crisis. Mental health …
…
continue reading
1
‘I wasn't surprised, but I was still shocked’: IFRC’s new president takes on today’s toughest humanitarian challenges - People in the Red Vest / Episode 1, Season 2
45:22
45:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:22
Inspired by her mother’s work helping migrant farm workers in the southwestern United States, Kate Forbes grew up understanding how hard people struggle for a better life. Starting as a Red Cross volunteer at her local branch, she now leads the world’s largest network of local humanitarian organizations. As newly elected president of the IFRC, Forb…
…
continue reading
1
Flipping a common humanitarian narrative about a vast, diverse and dynamic region – People in the Red Vest / Episode 8
47:59
47:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:59
In this episode, Alexander Matheou challenges a common humanitarian narrative about the Asia Pacific region being “disaster prone.” Yes, it is particularly vulnerable to climate-related events — and it has more than its share of volcanos and earthquakes — but it’s also leading the way in life-saving prevention, preparedness and humanitarian innovat…
…
continue reading
1
A near-death experience on a motorcycle steered Xaveir Castellanos to a life helping others – People in the Red Vest / Episode 7
47:42
47:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
47:42
Xavier Castellanos was 13 years old when he joined a Red Cross club at his high school in Ecuador. But it wasn’t until he experienced a serious motorcycle accident that his life took a serious turn toward a career helping others. The teenage Castellanos almost died in the crash, in part because no one nearby knew how to help. So he rejoined the Red…
…
continue reading
1
Rescued from armed conflict as a child, Hossam Elsharkawi has devoted his life to helping others – People in the Red Vest / Episode 6
42:11
42:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:11
Hossam Elsharkawi was three years old when the Red Cross brought him to safety following the outbreak of an armed conflict. It’s no wonder his life path led him to a career helping others. He earned a doctorate degree in public health and has spent his career working to care for others in dire and often dangerous situations around the world. Now Re…
…
continue reading
1
Breaking the mold on how to finance recovery and rebuilding after crisis - People in the Red Vest / Episode 5
33:31
33:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:31
In this episode: breaking the mold on the way humanitarian organizations finance recovery and rebuilding after crisis. We talk with Nena Stoiljkovic, IFRC’s Undersecretary General for Global Relations, Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization about new, innovative finance tools to help people and communities get back on their feet quickly after cr…
…
continue reading
1
Helping fellow refugees cope with the stress of conflict, migration and starting over - People in the Red Vest / Episode 4
33:34
33:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:34
Nataliia Korniienko knows firsthand the psychological and emotional stresses of conflict, migration and living as a refugee. In 2022, she was a mental health and psychosocial field officer for the ICRC when conflict finally forced her and her daughter to leave for Poland. Now her experience as a psychologist, former Ukrainian Red Cross technical ad…
…
continue reading
1
Bringing hope to the people of Afghanistan - People in the Red Vest / Episode 3
40:51
40:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:51
In this episode, we explore the dire humanitarian situation in Afghanistan with Homa Nader, Manager of Strategic Engagement and Partnership in the IFRC country office in Kabul. Four years of drought, economic sanctions and the legacy of conflict are just a few factors that have left some 34 million Afghans facing extreme hardship. We spoke with Hom…
…
continue reading
1
Planting hope amid the hunger - People in the Red Vest / Episode 2
41:06
41:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:06
A regional leader in the fight against food insecurity in Africa, Mahabub Maalim knows first-hand the impact that hunger has on people and communities. Growing up in eastern Kenya, he’s seen how cycles of drought, crop loss and hunger have become more frequent and more severe. He’s dedicated his life to helping communities develop local solutions a…
…
continue reading
1
From volunteer to humanitarian leader - People in the Red Vest / Episode 1
52:46
52:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:46
Jagan Chapagain was 14 years old when he joined the Nepal Red Cross as a volunteer. Now as Secretary General of the IFRC, he leads the world’s largest humanitarian volunteer network. In this debut episode, Chapagain talks about today's greatest humanitarian challenges and opportunities. He explains why humanitarians need to change the way they thin…
…
continue reading
1
People in the Red Vest - People and stories that inform and inspire
0:48
0:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
0:48
Through all the great events of our times — from storms to earthquakes to conflict — the people of the Red Cross Red Crescent are there. Their emblems and Red Vests are symbols that help has arrived. Welcome to Season 2 of People in the Red Vest, a podcast brought to you by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)…
…
continue reading