Red Cross, the role of young people in saving the Planet: initiatives on environmental education and sustainability for the new generations

ROMA – On the 54th Earth Day, the Red Cross turns the spotlight on the role of young people in saving the planet, a role clearly evident in the environmental education and sustainability initiatives that the international organization addresses to the new generations.?

The ongoing humanitarian crises. The commitment made for the 2030 Agenda is slowed down by ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises which, comments the president of the CRI, Rosario Valastro, “together with the recent health, social and environmental emergencies, are putting the balance at risk of our Planet.” Protecting the Earth and its resources, tackling climate change, combating poverty and social inequalities, protecting human rights, are all elements which, together, contribute equally to a concept of universal sustainable development of which the Italian Red Cross, every day, is a witness, through Volunteers engaged in the territory”.

I Green Camps. Through the activities of Volunteers and Committees, the Red Cross has created ?Green Camps, free residential and non-residential summer camps for? children between 8 and 17 years old. Through peer-to-peer, participatory and experiential teaching models, minors participate in activities and workshops, excursions and guided tours to learn while having fun: in close contact with nature, the ecological identity of the participants is strengthened but also the attention towards road safety, to raise awareness among children and young people to adopt responsible and safe behaviour. Participation in the Green Camps is free, just register by sending an email to [email protected].

The Civil Environmental Service. “Soon – explains Valastro – we will welcome one hundred young operators of the Universal Civil Service as part of the experimentation of an Environmental Civil Service, as a further sign of the Association’s commitment to environmental risk prevention and territorial protection activities”. There are 2,142 places for the civil service in the Italian Red Cross, distributed across 26 projects divided into eleven programs throughout the national territory (for a twelve-month commitment with a service time of 25 hours per week and a reimbursement of €507, 30 monthly).

The Earth Effect campaign. Launched in 2021 by the Red Cross, is it a campaign? four-yearly? to raise awareness of volunteers and citizens on the topic of reducing environmental impact. There is a direct link between individual and collective choices and the ongoing climate crisis. Only by getting involved, engaging together on issues such as mitigation, adaptation and preparation for extreme events, will we be able to have a positive impact on our relationship with the environment and the planet, and have the necessary conditions to guarantee the protection of everyone’s health”.