The Patron of the Belize Red Cross Society, the Governor General of Belize, His Excellency Sir Colville Young shall address an estimated one hundred and fifty delegates from seven Red Cross branches at a weekend Volunteer Encounter. The two day event officially opens tomorrow morning at the Campus of the Youth with a Mission Facility in Roaring Creek, in the Cayo District. The Encounter also coincides with the observation of International Volunteer Day yesterday and the Deputy Director General of the Belize Red Cross Malenie Barnes told us the importance of volunteering.
MALENIE BURNS
“This is the first time we are actually doing a two day event but annually we usually have just a short recognition ceremony where we recognize the volunteers and it’s an opportunity for them to come from all over the country just for this one recognition so that we can show our appreciation but we are changing it up a little bit this year. We are trying to make it a little bit more fun. We have two days where we are focusing the first day on having some fun activities and allowing them time to interact with each other and then we have the award ceremony on the second day.”
REPORTER
“Now for those people who really don’t like volunteering what message do you have for them?”
MALENIE BURNS
“Volunteering – it’s a good opportunity; it gives you exposure to a lot of areas and what people may not understand is that volunteering is not coming in and doing some heavy lifting. We need volunteers in all areas; expertise in video camera, publishing; there is a wide range of expertise we need and it’s flexible and it’s on your time. We are very appreciative; don’t be afraid to volunteer. There is always something that we need that you can offer us.”
Volunteers will receive awards in a number of categories, including best overall volunteer, youngest, oldest, exceptional volunteer in all programs carried out the national society.
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