ERCS Convenes With Student Unions

ERCS executives Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) executives recently came to the table with government higher education student union leaders to discuss on the possibilities both parties can contribute for humanitarian development held on 26th of September, 2013. Opening the session Secretary General of ERCS, W/ro Frehiwot Worku said that, establishing community based strategic partnership is highly deemed imperative for the future of the national society. As one of the public spheres, in order to create relationship with the academic circle, we had promising communication with the Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen who was also Education Minister, she added. So that, the National Society is now concentrating to see ways in which it can work with Universities. In addition to jointly engaging in resource mobilization campaign such as One birr for Humanity, such partnerships will further be helpful to recruit academically well-equipped youth volunteers who can represent the national society in various international humanitarian forums, she noted. Although contributions of Universities in One birr for Humanity campaign might be limited in financial terms, it will be hugely vital as entry point for further strategic partnerships especially to exploit the academic circle in the areas of humanitarian and development research, stated Ato Hagos Gemechu, Deputy Secretary General of ERCS Programs. During the deliberations, Dissemination, Volunteers and Members affairs (DVM) department head Ato Gebrie Alebachew explained about engagements and peculiarities of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in general and ERCS activities in particular. President of the Union for Government Higher Education Institutions students, Tolosa Bedada on his part said that the Union is planning to take-part in wider national issues other than institutional matters. According to Tolosa, in partnership with ERCS, the Union will be able to create awareness in Universities about nation-wide importance of the Society and build sense of belongingness and ownership by students to actively engage in supporting humanitarian activities of ERCS. The session adjourned after designing short and long term plans on which both parties will cooperate starting from September 2013 on and promised fruitful humanitarian partnership outcomes since then.