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VANUATU'S FIRST DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CAMP
VANUATU'S FIRST DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CAMP
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ACCESS TO WATER IN AKHAMB COMMUNITY, MALEKULA: ...
ACCESS TO WATER IN AKHAMB COMMUNITY, MALEKULA: WORK IN PROGRESS
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VANUATU RED CROSS DENGUE FEVER SMS MESSAGE ...
VANUATU RED CROSS DENGUE FEVER SMS MESSAGE OUTBREAK
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DRR IN 10 COMMUNITY IN SANTO
DRR IN 10 COMMUNITY IN SANTO
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VACANCY NOTICE
VACANCY NOTICE
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VRCS TC Judy & TC Kevin Response: March 2023

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Between 1 and 5 March 2023, the Vanuatu islands were hit by two (2) consecutive Category 4 Tropical Cyclones: Judy & Kevin. There was widespread damage to various islands throughout Vanuatu. Authorities reported that some 250,000 people were affected, representing 80% of the population affected. Despite power outages and communication challenges following the cyclones, the Vanuatu Red Cross Society activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and initiated its response immediately after.

After 1 month of disaster response operations, we have managed to reach over 10,000 people in the provinces of SHEFA, MALAMPA and TAFEA. Hundreds of our volunteers have been deployed to assess damages, collect data and eventually distribute relief items to vulnerable families. Relief items include shelter items, health and hygiene kits, solar lanterns and dignity kits.

Here below is an infographic showing details of the VRCS response in March 2023:

Overall data for response in March 2023

Informative map highlighting areas of VRCS response

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Vanuatu: One month on since double cyclones, rising cases of Leptospirosis a concern

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PRESS RELEASE: There are grave concerns over the increase in Leptospirosis cases, a bacterial disease, one month on from the double category 4 cyclones in Vanuatu.

The country has reported 19 new cases of Leptospirosis and three deaths since the cyclone passed. The majority of cases have been in Santo and Efate islands, with a few cases in Malekula, Pentecost, Malo and Erromango.

Read full press release here: https://www.ifrc.org/press-release/vanuatu-one-month-double-cyclones-rising-cases-leptospirosis-concern?fbclid=IwAR0xL-ut4gMGo2iapND9D-OLkRXMiGfStOtr5zryz5W35lmX-49u_cHP8c0


Lulu Vuti, 53, from North Efate receives relief items from Vanuatu Red Cross volunteers after double cyclones devastated his community.

Photo: Philippe Carillo / IFRC

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Vanuatu: Urgent need for shelter and clean drinking water after double cyclones

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PRESS RELEASE: There is an urgent need for shelter and clean drinking water as hundreds of thousands of people have been affected by back-to-back cyclones in communities across Vanuatu.

Hundreds of people are still seeking shelter in evacuation centres as some have had their houses damaged or completely destroyed.

Read more: https://tinyurl.com/bdfh6c8d

Vanuatu Red Cross volunteers Jeff and Hilda conduct damage assessments and relief distribution in Bladiniere, Port Vila.

Photo: Philippe Carillo / IFRC

8 Tips to start this New Year 2023 right.

1. Find out from your local Red Cross or health authority how you can sign up to get your vaccine (or booster if you are eligible.)

Remember, vaccines help save lives!

2. There is no good health without good mental health. Find positive ways to cope with stress.

If you need to talk to a professional, contact the local health institution or the Red Cross for more info.

3. Emergencies can happen at any time and at any place. Getting trained in First Aid and CPR is a great way to help others.

4. Having a first aid kit at home, school or your workplace is crucial. Whether you make one, or get one from your local Red Cross, ensure you have all the basic items to help in any emergency.

5. Volunteering is a great way to give back to your community, plus it has numerous benefits, and is good for you!

Find out from your local Red Cross how you can sign up to become a volunteer.

6. Find out from your local Red Cross or blood bank how you can sign up to donate blood.

One blood donation can save as many as three lives!

7. Get your family together and draft a disaster plan. Be sure to include evacuation routes, emergency contact numbers, and other relevant info. If you have pets, remember to include info to ensure their safety in an emergency.

Your local Red Cross can provide guidance.

8. Now would be a great time to pack an emergency go-bag. The pandemic is not over, so ensure you include masks and sanitizers.

Contact your local Red Cross for guidance.

Vanuatu Red Cross Society

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

8 Tips to start this New Year 2023 right.

Financial Skills and Technical Training and Budget Holder / Coordinators on Budget Management

Finance has played an important role in the National Society’s (NS) daily activities and administration work. It is seen as a core function of any NS in the movement. It is very important that all NS comply with any donor’s requirement and have the necessary skills to implement the task required by both Finance Team and Coordinators (especially the Budget Holders).

The training is an initiative from the Australian Red Cross (ARC) support to provide the finance Team with technical skills to improve their knowledge and understanding of MYOB and any other financial matter. And to help Budget coordinators to understand how to manage a budget.

With support from the Australian Red Cross (ARC), this week the ARC team facilitated a day of training at Ramada Resort to teach the Finance skills for the Vanuatu Red Cross Society budget holder/ coordinators staff on budget management. The purpose of this training was to upskill the VRCS budget holder staff working with managing a budget to understand what parts they are responsible for and focus on budgeting for a separate activity/event. show how to budget for activities in there (as opposed to the Master Plan), to understand budget vs actual reports: show the Master Plan bud vs actual summary page. Filtering to analyze the activity lines, and understanding how much has been spent/remaining for the rest of the year and Timeline - budgeting, spending, and reviewing and understanding the fraud and corruption policy and Financial Sustainability.

On that day the VRCS budget holders were supported to understand different parts of Budget Management, like understanding Financial Management and how it involves organizing, planning, monitoring and controlling the financial resources of an organization to achieve its objectives. They further explore the Roles and Responsibilities of the Board, Secretary General and Finance Team, Practical budgets vs actual reports, timeline budgeting to reporting, monthly meetings, activity tracking sheet, Financial Sustainability and dashboard. These Financial Management sessions were word puzzle activities and hands-on activities using a laptop that was done in groups and was easy for everyone to understand each part.

The Training was facilitated by Patrea Ryan - Finance Development Adviser of the Australian Red Cross (ARC) and assisted by her two colleagues Claire Hallas - Portfolio Manager (PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu) International Programs and Lauren Simpson - Program Advisor (PNG, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu)  International Programs.

Financial Skills and Technical Training and Budget Holder / Coordinators on Budget Management - Ramada Resort, Port Vila - Vanuatu.

Budget Holder / Coordinators on Budget Management training.

Budget Holder / Coordinators on Budget Management training.

Budget Holder / Coordinators on Budget Management training.

Budget Holder / Coordinators on Budget Management training.

Budget Holder / Coordinators on Budget Management training.


VRCS NEW VOLUNTEER SOFTWARE/COMPUTING TRAINING - Tafea Branch

Now are days, the world is going through a digital transformation. Thus, our New Volunteers who are recruited on board and existing volunteers need to adapt by building their capacity to meet the standard. This training is in line with the National Society (NS) strategic plan for 2022 to 2030 Transformation #6; Undergoing a digital transformation point b.

The Vanuatu Red Cross Society SOFTWARE/COMPUTING TRAINING is purposely to train the New Volunteers of Tafea Branch to work effectively together as volunteers and to enhance their capacity building on the software we use in our computers to do our daily work such as Microsoft word (MS Word), Excel, and PowerPoint (Reporting, database, calculation, etc.

The Tafea New Volunteers further explore photography and videography basic skills how to use and capture photos and videos using their phone and a camera. They were also demonstrated how to capture good pictures and videos using whatever devices they have and collect data in the field and enter data into a data template form using MS Word and how to create tables inside Microsoft word, how setup and create a PowerPoint template and how to conduct an interview respectfully. These are all the important parts of their learning on how to use a computer to enter data and it was wonderful to see them interested to learn and recognize their responsibilities and start to step into their roles as strong volunteers before, during and after a disaster.

The VRCS NEW VOLUNTEER SOFTWARE/COMPUTING TRAINING - Tafea Branch was facilitated by Jeremiah Bosese - Dissemination & Communications Officer at Vanuatu Red Cross Society. The SOFTWARE/COMPUTING TRAINING was officially closed by the Tafea Branch President Willie Ketio from Tanna Island.

VRCS NEW VOLUNTEER Participants of the SOFTWARE/COMPUTING TRAINING - Tafea Branch

“I would say this is an excellent training that we learn a lot, we volunteers learn the laws of the Red Cross, Right of a Volunteer, How to use a computer and how to capture a picture or photo using a camera or phone correctly. Thank you VRCS for providing such training like this to Tafea Branch Volunteers,” says Joseph Nok - Tafea Red Cross Branch Secretary, Tanna Island.

“Within 3 days training I as a volunteer of Red Cross Tafea Branch learn a lot, the law of Red Cross, Right of a volunteer, Child Protection Policy, how to use a computer adn how to capturer outstanding pictures and videos using my phone and a camera and also how to interview a person. Thank you VRCS for allowing this training to the Tafea Branch,“ Sergine Poida - Tafea Branch Volunteer from Waisisi Community, Tanna Island.

Jeremiah Bosese - Dissemination & Communications Officer at Vanuatu Red Cross Society Facilitating the Software training to volunteers.

Tafea Branch’s new volunteer group activity - taking turns learning how to sketch a table inside a computer using Microsoft word.

Tafea Branch’s new volunteer group activity - taking turns learning how to sketch a table inside a computer using Microsoft word.

Tafea Branch’s new volunteer group activity - Learning how to capture a picture in portrait mode and landscape mode and also capture a video.

Closing and a word of appreciation from the Tafea Red Cross President Willie Ketio to everyone participated in the training and as well as thanking the Vanuatu Red Cross Society for the wonderful training to the branch.

VRCS NEW VOLUNTEER INDUCTION TRAINING - TAFEA BRANCH

With funding through the Australian Red Cross (ARC), the Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS) conducted a day of induction training last week with the new Volunteers of Tafea Branch. The purpose of the induction training is to help the new volunteers and existing volunteers to learn and understand their roles and responsibilities as volunteers, understand Red Cross policies and Child Policy and also understand the role of VRCS, the seven fundamental principles or rules and policies that will guide them while conducting voluntary work in the field or in a community before, during and after a disaster. It was wonderful to see them recognize their roles and responsibilities and start to step into their role as volunteers of VRCS! The induction training was facilitated by Jessica Binihi - Youth & Volunteer Officer at Vanuatu Red Cross Society.

The Induction training was officially closed by the Tafea Branch President Willie Ketio from Tanna Island.

VRCS NEW VOLUNTEER Participants during the INDUCTION TRAINING - TAFEA BRANCH, Tanna Island.

“I would say this is an excellent training that we learn a lot, we volunteers learn the laws of the Red Cross, Right of a Volunteer, How to use a computer and how to capture a picture or photo using a camera or phone correctly. Thank you VRCS for providing such training like this to Tafea Branch Volunteers,” says Joseph Nok - Tafea Red Cross Branch Secretary, Tanna Island.

“Within 3 days training I as a volunteer of Red Cross Tafea Branch learn a lot, the law of Red Cross, Right of a volunteer, Child Protection Policy, how to use a computer adn how to capturer outstanding pictures and videos using my phone and a camera and also how to interview a person. Thank you VRCS for allowing this training to the Tafea Branch,“ Sergine Poida - Tafea Branch Volunteer from Waisisi Community, Tanna Island.

Jessica Binihi - Youth & Volunteer Officer at Vanuatu Red Cross Society. Induction Training facilitator.

VRCS NEW VOLUNTEER Participants during the INDUCTION TRAINING - TAFEA BRANCH, Tanna Island.



VRCS National Resource Mobilization Committee (NRM)

Last week the Vanuatu Red Cross Society (VRCS) National Resource Mobilization Committee (NRM) came together to create the National Resource Mobilization Committee at the VRCS Board Room. The NRM committee consists of the VRCS National Board at the national and branch levels.

The VRCS National Resource Mobilization (NRM) committee is about how to work effectively together and help the Resource Mobilization (RM) Department to create revenue-generating initiatives to build the National Society’s long-term financial sustainability.

The National Resource Mobilization (NRM) Committee meeting is an induction of the new members, and a review of the RM activities implemented this year 2022 while identifying its challenges and opportunities. The meeting includes Revit’s signing and endorsing the RM plan for 2023.

The National Resource Mobilization (NRM) Committee has been endorsed by the VRCS National Board for establishment at the national and branch levels. Since its endorsement in May 2022, it is first-ever meeting at the national level is being called on Wednesday 31/12/22 and Thursday 01/12/22. These are all important parts of the National RM committee which will pave the way forward for the RM department in 2023.

VRCS National Resource Mobilization Committee (NRM)

VRCS National Resource Mobilization Committee (NRM)