Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
ABOUT 200 young people from Zimbabwe and other African countries have completed a five-day humanitarian training camp in Marondera, gaining practical skills in emergency response, disaster preparedness, leadership, innovation and community resilience.
The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) International Youth Camp, held at Karumazondo Campsite in Mashonaland East, ended on Saturday after bringing together young people from almost all 10 provinces and 22 international delegates from Uganda, Ethiopia, Eswatini and Zambia.
ZRCS National Youth President Victor Chimhanda said regional participation marked significant growth from last year’s edition.
“Compared to last year’s camp, we have expanded significantly,” Chimhanda said, adding that the organisation hoped to attract participants from Europe and the Asia-Pacific region in future.
He said the initiative was intended to become a global platform for young people to exchange experiences and strengthen humanitarian partnerships.
Held under the RISE theme — Resilience, Innovation, Skills and Empowerment — the camp included first-aid training, emergency-response drills, disaster preparedness, leadership and volunteerism, health and wellbeing, innovation and team-building activities.
Head of the Country Cluster Delegation for Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Kopano Benjamin Masilo, said empowering young people was critical to building resilient communities.
“Our youths are our leaders, and I always say they are leaders of today and tomorrow. If we want to see communities flourish, we need to ensure that young people are empowered mentally, emotionally and financially, while their physical capacity is still at its peak,” Masilo said.
“Programmes like these dovetail well with our Sustainable Development Goals.”
The training also reinforced the Red Cross’ formal role in Zimbabwe’s emergency-response architecture.
Under the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society Act (Chapter 17:08), the Society is recognised as an independent and voluntary aid organisation auxiliary to public authorities, with responsibilities including emergency preparedness and relief for disaster victims.
GZU Red Cross Club member Andrew Gwavava said the training had equipped participants with practical emergency-response skills.
“We were trained in first aid, emotional intelligence and how to conduct ourselves professionally when responding to emergencies and working with communities,” he said.
Participants also explored drug and substance-abuse prevention, mental health and sexual and reproductive health.
Midlands State University journalism student and MSU Zvishavane Campus Red Cross chairperson Hannah Mapisire said the camp enabled young people to develop solutions to community challenges.
“We managed to come up with an application, which is going to help every institution to upload their information about events,” she said.
The application is expected to include patron and emergency contacts, including ambulance numbers.
Mapisire said participants also planted trees and supported vulnerable children through groceries and school fees.
Zambia Red Cross Society youth innovation mentor Imashela Abraham Nambayo said the camp had strengthened regional youth cooperation.
“It’s also been a way of networking and also bringing in new skills and discipline through team-building activities,” she said.
Nambayo said innovation could help young people address challenges including climate change and unemployment.
The camp was hosted by ZRCS in collaboration with the British Red Cross and IFRC, which provided funding, resources and operational support.
Chimhanda said the long-term objective was to transform the camp into a global youth humanitarian platform.
