Activities

History of Junior Red Cross

The Junior Red Cross is the Students wing of the Red Cross. It is a group movement organized within schools. Students who take part in Junior Red Cross activities are known as JUNIORS. The teacher, who guides the students in JRC activities, is called “Counselor”.
Three incidents sowed the seeds for Junior Red Cross Movement:

There was a heavy flood in the state of Ohio in America. To help the flood victims, six children gathered together, collected money, and sent this to Mrs. Clara Burton, who was the founder of Red Cross in America. Along with Red Cross contribution, she gave this money, to a poor widow who lost all her belonging in the flood. The poor widow constructed a small hut with the help of this money and there was a board in front of her house, as “Little six Red Cross Landing”.

During the Boer War (1899-1902) the youth in Canada formed a group, collected money and sent it to the Red Cross. During this war, Father of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi served as a Red Cross Volunteer when he was in South Africa.
It was in the province of Quebec in Canada in the year 1914 children participated in Red Cross work by making bandages, dressings etc. for soliders. By 1915 the movement has begun to spread to Europe. America made the largest contribution by organizing school children for Red Cross activities.

Growth in India
Junior Red Cross groups were first organized in 1926 in Punjab and was followed by other states. JRC Objectives:
Promotion of Health, Service to Others, International Friendship

Promotion of Health :                                                  

• Practice of Health Habits.
• Cleanliness of School Premises.
• Health awareness Campaigns in the nearby areas.
• First Aid Training
• Blood Grouping camps for JRC Members

Service to Others :

• May I help squads.
• Providing books, medicines, food, clothing etc. to poor school children.
• Voluntary service during relief operations connected with natural calamities.
• Providing First Aid to the wounded/sick.
• Visit to Hospitals, Orphanage, Home of the Aged.
• Adoption of a nearby slum or village for literacy campaign & health awareness programmes.
• Road Safety & fire fighting.

Friendship :

• Participating in JRC Camps, Competitions, Exhibition etc.
• Sending Greetings
• Ex changing of Albums
• Organizing inter religious Harmony Rally& National Integration camps.

JRC Uniform: “When Henry Dunant was helping the war victims in the Salfarino War, he was wearing white dress and as he was wearing white dress he was called by the victims of war. “ The Gentleman in White”.
The normal uniform prescribed for boys/Counselor of JRC is:

• White half slack shirt
• White half/Full Pant
• White Shoes and Socks
• Scarf, Voggle and Badge( with Red Cross emblem white background)

The normal uniform prescribed for girls/Counselor of JRC is:

• White Blouse
• White Skirt/ Saree
• White Ribbon
• Scarf, Voggle and Badge( with Red Cross emblem white background)

JRC Pledge : “I pledge myself to care for my own health and that of others, to help the sick and suffering, especially children and to look upon other children all over the world as my friends.”

Motto of JRC : “I serve” This motto should be displayed at some catchy place in the schools along with Red Cross emblem

Red Cross Flag :
Red Cross Flags in correct dimensions, at least two in number should be in the possession of the school JRC executive committee and its counselor(s). The flag should be unfurled at JRC meetings and functions. The Red Cross Emblem may be made by making four squares on all sides of a central square.
Flag Length – 122 Cms. – Width – 184 Cms. (White Background Red Emblem Blue Letters)

Membership Fee etc.,

• Eligibility for Membership : Membership of the Junior Red Cross will be open to any school, Government, Government aided or private institution of any syllabus or medium of instruction, Membership will also be open to adult schools Reformatory, Industrial Schools and Children’s Aid Societies. A School is treated as one unit for the purpose of Registration
• Annual School Membership Fee: The annual School Membership Fee will be Rs. 50.00(Rupees fifty only) per annum per school.
• Annual Individual Membership: Each member of the Junior Red Cross pays annual contribution of Rs. 5.00. Out of the total amount collected, the school management retains 40% and remits the remaining 60% to the IRCS Office. A separate JRC Bank/Post Office A/c has to be mainlined by the Schools.
• Membership Fee: The schools pay Rs. 50/- (Rupees fifty only) per year for Registration and Membership Subscription 60% share by cheque or DD Drawn in favor of Junior Red Cross. The amount has to be sent to the Dist. Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, E. G. Dist. Branch, Kakinada.