ESC: Fighting social exclusion and strengthening social cohesion

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is the world’s largest humanitarian network. Neutral and impartial, it provides protection and assistance to communities affected by disasters or conflicts. The movement gathers nearly 97 million volunteers, members and employees in 190 countries, all of them, gathered by the same will to “alleviate human suffering without discrimination of nationality, race, religion, social condition or political views”. “The movement” is a term covering: - The International Committee of the Red Cross - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - The national societies of Red Cross and Red Crescent The movement shares the same 7 principles and values: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Volunteering, Unity and Universality. In close collaboration, the movement bodies help vulnerable communities to become stronger and safer through many different development projects and humanitarian programmes. The movement holds also close cooperation with governments, investors and other assistance organisations in order to help vulnerable people worldwide. In France through its 1440 local branches, the French Red Cross offers social support (food and clothing assistance, emergency housing for homeless people), childhood protection (literacy campaigns, mother-child assistance), elderly support.The French Red Cross also acts when natural disasters in France such as storms and floods. Within its 650 health care and social facilities, the French Red Cross offers a wide range of services in the healthcare, sanitary, social and training sectors. 17,000 employees and around 53,000 volunteers are involved within the French Red Cross. The French Red Cross is a unique corporate body. Local, regional branches and social and health facilities are only one non-profit organisation and the national President makes a transfer of authority regarding the implementation of actions to them. Volunteering is one of the objectives of the FRC’s strategy as a “new way of commitment” and is seen as a way to answer young people’s will to act for the society and to feel useful. The aim is to encourage and reinforce the integration of young people in our organisation, to offer them the adequate support regarding their needs and a valuable experience as well as to develop cooperation within the Movement. Around 100 volunteers and 2 “service civique” are involved at the local branch of Bagneux and organise activities in two main different fields: Emergency and First Aid : - Trainings - First aid spots - Emergency response Social Action : - second-hand shops - Emergency social response (samu social) - visit to isolated people (mostly old people)