SALWA
SUANDI

A journey towards a better world can begin with just one simple step. That was the key message shared by a speaker at this year’s Humanitarian Conference organised by the Singapore Red Cross.

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Held at the Fort Canning Lodge on Oct 28, this year’s theme centred on Green Initiatives & Sustainability in Humanitarian Response. Five speakers shared their volunteer experiences at the conference attended by 100 delegates.

 

Mr Victor Ng, who attended the inaugural conference two years ago when he was looking for an opportunity to volunteer, was invited to give a speech at this year’s conference.

 

Mr Ng shared his experience of being part of the Singapore Red Cross’ International Services in Vietnam and Myanmar, when the two countries were hit by floods in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The 33-year-old said he wanted to share his experience so as to inspire others to volunteer too. He said: “It’s something that transcends languages because we go into a foreign country, we do not understand their language, but it’s the look in the eyes of those you are trying to help.”

 

Mr Ng thinks the younger generation has the potential to make changes in the world and encouraged them to follow the saying that ‘a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’.

 

The annual conference serves as a platform where the delegates could learn from others and form potential partnerships, said Singapore Red Cross secretary general and chief executive officer Benjamin Williams.

 

But he also posed a little poser to those in attendance – do humanitarian actors take into account the environment? “How much of your work actually continues to help the community build resilience after you have left or does the whole thing collapse after you leave?” he wondered.  

 

Besides Mr Ng, there were other speakers who shared how they ensure environment sustainability in humanitarian responses.

 

Ms Caroline Gardestedt, Senior Advisor to Green Response and Sanitation from the Swedish Red Cross, spoke about the importance of a Green Response approach in humanitarian efforts. Mr Eseroma Ledua, Operations Manager from the Fiji Red Cross, shared his personal experience in the recovery in the aftermath of Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016.

“Humanitarian intervention starts before disasters. You can’t wait for something to happen, then you do something. Everything has to be done beforehand” said Victor in concluding his speech.