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"The Ready2Help Rotterdam Police Recovery Team is a unique collaboration between the Red Cross, citizens and the police. Ready2Helpers are citizens who help search for missing persons on behalf of the police. We provide extra on-call search force. During a one-evening course, you learn from the police that you must not leave any traces other than footprints in the search area. You must also walk straight ahead, side by side other volunteers in a straight line. If you see something that doesn’t belong in the area, such as a cup or shirt, you shout ‘halt’ and the police come to you. Thanks to us, the police can comb an area faster. The course also prepares you in case you find the missing person. If That’s the case, you are offered extensive assistance. According to the police, we add value to their work. I hope that continues and that other municipalities follow Rotterdam's example. The fact that we can summon both people from the Red Cross and Ready2Helpers very quickly makes me proud. We have a large search team on standby within 45 minutes. 

I have been with the Red Cross since I was 17. It fits well with my line of work at the hospital and my home situation. Besides, I can well imagine what it is like to miss a loved one. I live far from my family in Aruba and seeing them again is always so nice. People who are missing are never just that. They are often confused, have a disability or they need medication. I think it is so important to do this work. Imagine it being your loved one! My biggest lesson this year is that, as a team leader, I’m also only human and not in control of everything. Even if you apply all the skills and procedures you learned, every case is different. You have to go in with an open mind every single time. Each time, I emphasise that we have to pay close attention to each other. Nobody goes searching an area on their own accord; we stick together. For our own safety. After every search, I let go. I have done my part.” 

"I always say: I was born old. As a teenager, I felt it was important to do more. At 16, I started volunteering. My first time out as a volunteer was at carnival, which is celebrated widely on our island. After that, I never left. The Red Cross felt like family – and it still does. I wanted to help people. We now have 160 volunteers and they are all desperately needed.

Although Aruba has a high gross national product and you can find well-paid work, there is also a lot of poverty on the island among locals and among undocumented migrants from Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. People do not easily ask for help because they are hindered by pride. Fortunately, when things really get tough, they know where to find us. 

We have done wonderful projects that I’m proud of and that we will continue with in 2023. We are working with the Netherlands Red Cross, for instance, on a socio-economic project where we provide food aid. We also provide medical assistance to undocumented migrants, those in detention we offer hygiene and clothing kits and give them the opportunity to contact their families. We also buy school materials for children whose parents cannot afford them, provide courses on self-reliance and pay attention to gender-based violence and equal treatment. Furthermore, we have activities for lonely elderly people and, of course, we always lend an ear. I’m extremely proud of the awareness campaign on human trafficking.

The smile at the end of the day is what motivates me. And the sometimes literally audible sigh of relief when you say you can help. Sometimes people cry with happiness. We do good work. It is not always easy because it is so busy and sometimes you have to say no. Sometimes I feel powerless. For instance, an 80-year-old gentleman without a Dutch passport nor pension was stuck in the government's systems. He needed structural help. We see what we can do, but we do not work for social services. We are an emergency organisation."

"I believe in the Red Cross story, in what we do and that it is very much needed. I used to work in business and can sell well, but I think the warm relationship is more important than the sales process itself. As Relationship Manager of the Friends of the Red Cross, I manage relationships. When I started a year and a half ago, we had about 50 Friends, now there are 133. Hopefully, we will close 2022 with an even higher number. I’m most proud of this growth. When the 'Friends of' was conceived, we never paid 100% attention to it. Now we do. 

The Friends of the Red Cross are small and medium-sized businesses that help us financially so that we can continue to work on great local, national and international projects. In return, apart from a first aid kit, first aid courses for their staff and more benefits, they can also demonstrate their social commitment. Companies are keen to do their bit for climate, environment and humanity. The new generation of workers wants to know what their employer is doing in terms of corporate social responsibility. It’s a win-win situation. 

I’m incredibly happy with my job because I can really mean something to the Red Cross. With an extra colleague for the Friends' relationship management since October, we can hopefully grow even faster. The Red Cross does important work. We live in uncertain crazy times: war in Europe, the housing crisis, skyrocketing inflation and energy prices. Perhaps the biggest lesson of this year is that everyone may one day need the Red Cross. Before COVID-19, we all thought we were immortal. Now we have lost all certainties. It doesn't take much to shake up everything again. For me, these are not moments of learning but moments of realisation. We should knowingly enjoy what we have."

If you work at or know an organisation that should also become a Red Cross 'Friend', contact Vahideh (vshemshad@redcross.nl) or check our website for more information.