The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC) hosted its second youth forum with the aim of crafting innovative solutions in the humanitarian field and addressing challenges facing young people, building on the success of the inaugural forum.
This event underscored the contributions of youth, working hand in hand with their leaders, in shaping decisions and generating ideas.
The forum, organised by the National Association of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Southeast Asia, runs from September 17-20 in Phnom Penh.
Among the attendees was Pit Chamnan, a member of the Central Committee of the CRC and the permanent vice-chairman of the Working Group for Supporting Youth Activities and Volunteers, as per a post on the CRC’s Facebook post.
The gathering has brought together leaders from the CRC general-secretariat, representatives from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), youth forum coordinators, youth delegates representing 11 National Associations of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and 24 youth club advisors, alongside CRC youth.
The post announced that during a video conference, Kathryn Clarkson, the head of IFRC Country Cluster Delegation for Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, expressed the role of young people as the force behind the success of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in the humanitarian sector.
She added that the success of the initial youth forum in 2022, held in Brunei, demonstrated that young people have the capability to participate in decision-making and offer innovative ideas, working collaboratively with their leaders.
“That’s why the youth have urged us to organise this forum annually, and today’s event marks the second youth forum. This forum serves as a platform to empower participants from the 11 National Associations of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, enabling them to explore innovative solutions within the humanitarian sector and reinforce international cooperation and solidarity within the broader International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement,” she continued.
During the forum, Chamnan remarked that the gathering was significant for young people across Asia.
“The significance of this forum lies in its ability to bring young people together to discuss solutions for challenges stemming from natural disasters, poverty and the vital aspect of blood donation for those in need,” he added.
