PRCS in Gaza concludes a Dissemination Workshop for its volunteers

Gaza- The PRCS branch in Gaza concluded a workshop in dissemination and volunteer work, held in the Society's hall on the 20th of March 2009 for 30 volunteers. The workshop included an introduction to PRCS, from its origins to its current services and programs, as well as the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity, and universality).

During the workshop, PRCS trainers introduced the concepts of volunteerism and team work, as well as the rights and duties of volunteers in the Society. Also, the volunteer and youth programs and the planning process for events and activities were discussed, consistent with the Society's needs and abilities. Moreover, the workshop included details on the services and programs the International Committee of the Red Cross provides in times of conflict and war, and the nature of the programs it implements in the oPt, as well as the nature of the volunteers' work in the Society's branch in Gaza.

The workshop also presented the services PRCS’s Disaster Management Unit provides, such as spreading awareness on how to respond to natural disasters and armed conflicts. Additionally, the workshop presented information on mental health services, including methods for easing psychological stress and the psychosocial programs the Society provides.

The workshop also included lectures given by specialists on different International Humanitarian Law (IHL) concepts related to the work of the PRCS, such as the rights and the obligations of medical missions in time of armed conflict , the use and the miss use of the emblem, in addition to general information on the emergence and development of IHL, its sources and principles. In addition, the workshop included making the participants aware of the dangers of landmines and suspicious objects.

Finally, the workshop addressed the topics of communication and leadership skills, as well as the role of multimedia in disseminating the Society's message to its volunteers and the people who benefit from the Society's services.