This year's American Red Cross National Youth Institute took place in May in Portland, Oregon and Albany, New York. The three day conferences focused on developing leadership skills and improving youth programs. International Services was one of the three break-out sessions youth could attend.

The International Services workshop provided youth with information and ideas on how to get their chapter and community involved in International Services. The youth learned about the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL), HIV/AIDS programming, the Measles Initiative and Fight the Bite, the new Malaria Prevention Program.

The institute was a great platform to introduce youth to International Services' newest program, Fight the Bite. Many of the youth were surprised to learn that in Africa a child dies every 30 seconds from Malaria, which is a preventable and treatable disease. To showcase how our Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies teach communities how to prevent Malaria, the youth were given mosquito nets and asked to hang them up without any instructions. They were only told that they had to set-up the net so they would be protected from Malaria carrying mosquitoes. Through this exercise, the youth learned that providing people with a net is not enough and that they must be educated on how to use and care for their nets.

To showcase how our Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies teach communities how to prevent Malaria, the youth were given mosquito nets and asked to hang them up without any instructions.

The workshop also focused on Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) by having the youth participate in one of the modules, "needs that arise from the devastation of war." This exercise helped the youth understand and appreciate the impact of evacuation on victims' lives. In small groups, the youth were told they had only 10 minutes to evacuate their home because there was an imminent danger. They were asked to come up with a list of what they needed to bring with them, how they would carry it out and how they would flee from the area. Once they finished their plan of action, they were asked how their plan would differ if their circumstances changed. For instance, if they had an infant or an elderly person with them, how would that impact their plan of action?

At the National Youth Institute in Albany, youth attending the session were treated to a presentation and discussion with Julie Khanai, a representative from the Guyana Red Cross. With the goal of promoting the sharing of ideas between volunteers in the United States and Guyana, Julie exposed participants to the opportunities and challenges facing the Guyana Red Cross Youth Services and HIV and AIDS prevention efforts. Youth volunteers in Guyana are raising awareness on HIV and AIDS through the Together We Can initiative. Several initiatives aimed at building life-skills are being integrated into the Together We Can program. Julie is particularly excited about leather crafting, which is a local tradition. In addition to developing life-skills, the leather products are a popular sell and spread HIV and AIDS messages.

On the last day of the conference, the youth had the opportunity to spend time working on an International Services Action Plan to bring back to their chapter. Each participant was given an International Services CD containing all the presentations which include points from the workshop as well as additional presentations, fact sheets and brochures they could share with their chapter and use to promote International Services programs. Armed with the necessary information and tools as well as new friends to help them along the way, the youth were ready to head back to their local chapter and start promoting Fight the Bite, the Measles initiative, EHL and other International Services programs and activities.

Lily Jones is the Outreach Coordinator for the International Services Department supporting the Measles Initiative and Malaria Prevention Program.
She can be reached at: JonesLil@usa.redcross.org.

Jennifer Cariño is a Senior Associate for Chapter Support in the International Services Department at American Red Cross national headquarters in Washington, DC. She has been with the Red Cross for almost 7 years.
She can be reached at: CarinoJ@usa.redcross.org.

Sohini Shah, a seven-plus year volunteer with the American Red Cross, is currently serving as the Youth Liaison on the Northeast Service Area Resource Council. She also oversees the Service Area Youth Council.
She can be reached at: ShahSo@usa.redcross.org.