President of the Spanish Red Cross Society Javier Senent Garcia and head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society’s Volunteer Organization Farahnaz Rafe’e, met last week to discuss cooperation in the realm of voluntary activities.
Iran and Spain are members of the ruling panel of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and as two of the most active societies, it places on them a greater responsibility to achieve the organization’s common goal of global peace, said Rafe’e, IRNA reported.
Pointing to the volunteers’ areas of activities which are organized based on regional needs, she said over the past year nearly 1,070 voluntary projects in social areas have been implemented across Iran with NGO collaboration.”
Among them were educational programs aimed at preventing social harm, common diseases, environmental destruction, AIDS, addiction and risky social behaviors.
“The ultimate goal of such activities is to build a culture of voluntary work and a sense of social responsibility to help the organization operate more effectively in the event of a disaster,” said Rafe’e adding that the presence of artists and athletes, awarding deserving emblems and devising motivational programs for more volunteers to join their efforts, are among the measures taken in this regard.
The Iran-Spain cooperation will include joint voluntary projects, attempts to promote global peace and using modern technology to accelerate and improve provision of aid and assistance during calamities, she said.
NGOs Useful
Senent Garcia praised the scale of Iran’s voluntary work stating that NGOs are a useful platform to provide aid in deprived regions.
Pointing to the 1.4 million Red Cross volunteers in Spain, he said Iran’s voluntary force is far greater. “IRCS pamphlets are found frequently across the streets of Tehran which shows the people’s unity and interest in providing help during disasters and times of need, in spite of their differences,” Senent Garcia observed.
He pointed to Spain’s achievements in using cutting-edge technology to reach and unite volunteers; the successful implementation of job-creating educational programs for the youth; and employment of one million people in companies collaborating with the Spanish Red Cross.
He expressed hope that Iran and Spain would share their knowledge and expertise to run joint projects as well as present their achievements to other countries and the IFRC.
The two sides reached preliminary agreements with regard to sharing experience and setting up joint voluntary projects.
