Somali Red Crescent Society

Somali Red Crescent Society

Everywhere

For everyone

                    8 MAY 2017 World Red Cross Red Crescent Day

As the movement, RCRC around the world celebrated for 8 May-the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day-Somali Red Crescent Society, it staff and volunteers marked the anniversary of this earth-shattering day in here and there in the country. Mogadishu Branch is one of the biggest branches in SRCS branches in Somalia. With the help of SRCS coordination office, the branch held brilliant and historic function of marking the ceremony of 8 May as all the world’s Red Crescent societies did around the world. More than 150 volunteers attended the ceremony. The National Society [SRCS] has a long and hilarious history of humanitarian services known by Somalis, due to its services for Somalia people for more than half century. Despite the clans disputes, current political rivalry and mayhem, the SRCS is the only humanitarian national society that can operate here and there in the country, this can be outstanding evidence that all Somalis, as a nation wide, have ever been in a good position to cordially welcome its activities to its people.

SRCS’s efforts of putting its principles into action, at all times, just brought about or made it the unique organisation which has the access to reach everywhere in the country in order to meet demands of the most vulnerable needy people in Somali society.

Opening

Just before the opening time, the SRCS Mogadishu Branch Secretary, Moh’ed Abdi Farah alias Aseyr, called for the Branch Staff, coordination officers and directors and other dignitaries to get into the well-prepared tents, decorated with some good quality photos of the Branch and SRCS activities, big boards with the name of the 8 May and other RCRC visibilities.

After his announcement, the staff and the dignitaries started entering into the tent. One of the volunteers opened the ceremony with some verses of the Holy Koran, the Branch secretary took the floor and spoke about the significance of the day [8 May], activities of the national society for its people and the history of the movement during his opening speech.

The celebration Day

Mogadishu Branch, with the help of SRCS Mogadishu coordination office, held remarkable event celebrating for 8 May, on Monday morning, on 8^th May 2017 in  SRCS Mogadishu Coordination Office. Volunteers and other staff including officers and directs from the coordination office played significant role in the event of marking the anniversary of 8 May Day.  SRCS Mogadishu Branch committee chairman, Badrudiin Sheikh Rashiid, the Branch Secretary, Moh’ed Abdi Farah better known as Aseyr, officials from Mogadishu Rahab Center and Keydsaney Hospital, Mr. Ali Bile and Moh’ed Moh’ud Arabow were also present. Among other dignitaries were those from universities such as Mr. Abdirahman who was from Somali International University [SIU] Mr. Abshir who was from marketing department of Hormud Telecommunication Company and  Sultan Farah, one of Somalia clans traditional elders or chieftains, Ali Bulle, who is one of greatest Somali pianist in Mogadishu.

The Event Scenario and Addresses

The climate was very brilliant, the sky was not cloudy, it was a sunny day and there was a bright light, little bit hot, in the tent, there were several cooling fans attached in the well decorated tent for the event day where many of the volunteers, SRCS coordination officers and directors, incredibly honoured dignitaries were present. Smart amplifiers and other equipments designated for the ceremony were installed in the tent. On Monday morning, 8 May, good looking volunteers dressed with red T. short stripped on visibility transcript of Red Crescent Society, Bisha Cas on the chest volunteers who were more than 120 were also present in the event day. The total of the participants were approximately 180 people including the invited dignitaries. Mr. Abdirisaq Moh’ed Farah, SRCS Radio and Media Program Officer from the communication department and Ali Nur were masters of the ceremony, Mr. Abdirisaq took wonderful photos with quality images where as Ali Nur, one of SRCS Mogadishu Branch volunteers, recorded really attracting video clips.
 Mohamoud Abdi Aseyr, Mogadishu Branch Secretary, made the welcome remarks, took up remarkable extracts or statements of the history of RCRC and welcomed the SRCS programs director Mr. Farhan Yahye.

Farhan Yaye, the Program Director started with name of Allah, greeted the participants including SRCS officials, volunteers and most welcomed dignitaries. The SRCS program director welcomed the participants to the event. Then, he spoke about birth of SRCS [Bisha Cas] and the time it joined to the RCRC movement or internationally recognized.

Mr. Farhan Yahye, continued his speech and spoke about the activities of SRCS, he asserted the Red Crescent Society has been assisting its society, especially, to the most vulnerable ones. The programs director said that the need of SRCS by its society turned up after the civil wars broke out in the country in 1991 and still persists; he said that the organisation, the SRCS operates in all districts and regions in the country. The program director expressed that the organisation has been serving health services for Somalis in both urban and rural areas, and pointed out that the organisation is the only body that can have access to everywhere in the country.

The SRCS Programs Director, Farhan Yahye, has also enlightened that the organisation has three rehabilitation centres for handicaps, one in Mogadishu, another in Galkaio and one in Hargeysa. Farhan underlined that SRCS has also been operating in disaster management in the country, it also worked on restore family links by reuniting those who lost in the civil wars. He finally concluded that volunteerism is the backbone of SRCS activities.

SRCS Mogadishu Branch Secretary took the microphone and welcomed some of the volunteers to the stage in order to perform concerts presenting activities of the SRCS.

The SRCS commentator said that they will perform a concert

Bracnhes [added to the previous report of RCRC 8 May Day]

Several branches of SRCS [Bisha Cas] has also held crucial ceremony marking 8 May by displaying every branch’s activities, performing some role plays representing the activities and achievements of SRCS branches mainly conducted by their volunteers and some of their other staff. The branches held the ceremony of the big day in several towns in the country. Every branch red the message by the SRCS President to SRCS staff on 8 may celebration. Galkaio Branch is one of the branches that held the ceremony of the day, its volunteers displayed performed a drama on significance of First Aid activities as shown the picture on below.

Likewise, Merca Branch also was one of the good branches that celebrated the day wonderfully in southern port town of Merka, traditional elders, many of the community, branch committee and many volunteers were in attendance. The Branch volunteers displayed good drama on the significance of the first aid as shown below.

Kismayo Branch also played significant role in holding RCRC 8 May Day ceremony, the branch marked the day wonderfully by holding some youth a football match to commemorate the day, the onlookers welcomed the match with cheers and applaud.

 

Just like previous SRCS braches, Bosaso Branch held 8 May ceremony function in Bosaso town, many of the branch staff including volunteers, members of the community, traditional elders, scholars and other dignitaries in attendance. As well as every branch, the word [logo] of the year was; Everywhere for Everyone.

For the commemoration of the day, SRCS Bosaso Branch volunteers and the staff performed cleaning campaign in TAWAL IDP Camp based prior of the event.

SRCS Bosaso Branch volunteers demonstrated a role play on First Aid given to car accident  wounded victims. The volunteers presented a role play on their first aid provisions.

Demonstration of Role Plays

SRCS Mogadishu Branch Secretary took the microphone and welcomed some of the volunteers to the stage in order to perform concerts presenting activities of the SRCS.

The SRCS volunteers’ commentator said that they will perform a concert or a role play which will display the activities of SRCS [Bisha Cas] the role play’s name was “The SRCS Youth and Public Needs”. He also called a group of volunteers minimum 20 who were doing the role play skilfully which led many of the participants who were looking the role play tap their feet on the floor with high appreciation.

The role play started a group six volunteer five girls and a boy singing a song representing importance of health activities carried out by the SRCS Mogadishu health department. 

The volunteers acted several other role plays including First Aid, Tracing and Health Care, all the role plays by the SRCS volunteers were reflecting seven fundamental principles of the RCRC or the movement. The participants expressed their extreme appreciation to the role plays performed by the SRCS Mogadishu Branch volunteers and thanked about the way they were organised.  Despite the short space for the volunteers to expose all at their disposal, the role plays were clear mirror for the RCRC and the movement humanitarian services for Somalia people.

Jowhar Branch

The movements commemorates the international day for Red cross and Red across day each year on 8^th may, Somali red crescent society Jowhar branch is one of the branches which celebrated the international day for the movement, this year the theme was “improve environmental sanitation and access to safe water to reduce water born disease primarily diarrhea” notably the SCRC Jowhar branch played a significant role to reduce Acute watery diarrhea in the region through constant hygiene promotion exercise in Jowhar, Mahaday and Balcad districts. A total of 150 people were invited to the ceremony from different society that includes, SRCS board members, Shebelle Educational Umbrella, Universities Jobkey and plasma health actors in Jowhar like WOCCA, International Medical corps, Intersos and Zamzam.

Beledweyn

Beledweyn branch was also one of those branches which held marvellous 8 May Day, the branch spoke about history of RCRC, activities of the Somali Red Crescent Society, it also prolonged the activities of Beledweyn branch mainly latest drought response activities, the branch said that volunteers have ever been backbone of main activities by the branch. They [volunteers] displayed well-applauded roleplay on first aid. The function ended in a good atmosphere.

 

Participants of Mogadishu Branch 8 May Day

Some of the participants including Ali Yusuf Moh’ed alias Ali bile, director of Keydsaney Hospital, Abshir from Hormud Telecommunication Copmany, Mr. Abdirahman who was from Somali International University [SIU] and one of Somali clan traditional elders or chieftains congratulated the 8 May day event on SRCS Mogadishu Branch activities. The official who was representing the SIU [Somali International University] urged the SRCS Mogadishu branch and the coordination level think about the first aid training and other trainings for nursed to change academic one by producing high qualified nurses in the near future stressing that his university will play concrete role in developing and implementation of such program.

SRCS President’s Message

During the event day, 8 May, SRCS Branches Director, Moh’ed Abdi Warsame alias Ferabel, read out the SRCS president’s, Yusuf Hasan Moh’ed better known Yusuf Yare to honourable participants. Ferabel said, making us of this occasion that the president pointed out SRCS volunteer and other staff, volunteer in particular, have been and will ever be the backbone of the national society and played visible role in responding droughts in the country, the president reiterated to show the SRCS commitment in providing timely humanitarian services to vulnerable communities every now and then, he also said that SRCS works with communities in a bid to address humanitarian challenges at their root causes.

“The president said, I would like to solute the volunteers and staff of the SRCS, Bisha Cas, for their efforts and dedication of helping vulnerable people in the country”, added Ferabel.

He said that the president wished the SRCS staff and volunteers and their families many happy returns of this propitious occasion

CONCLUSION

At the end of the occasion, Moh’ed Abdi Farah Asayr, SRCS’ Mogadishu Branch Secretary thanked to the participants wished participants happy returns on such invaluable events, thanked against the SRCS staff and its volunteers on their hard work on preparation and implementation of the ceremony.

Filed By: Mr. Abdirisaq Moh’ed Farah alias Sankahaji

SRCS National Radio and Media Program Officer

Zope Junction/Mogadishu/ Somalia

Email: abdirisaqsanka@gmail.com Tel: 252(0)61272791