Volunteers are the heart of the Red Cross Movement

5 December is International Volunteer Day. We speak to a New Zealander who has worked with Red Cross volunteers in many parts of the world.

Kiwi John Entwistle has worked for the Red Cross in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Eastern Europe and says volunteers are the lifeblood of the Movement.

“If you’re somewhere in New Zealand volunteering for Red Cross, whether it’s delivering a meal, helping settle a refugee or helping out in a shop, you can be sure that somewhere in the world, there’s someone else in Red Cross doing the same thing.”

A New Zealand Red Cross volunteer may not want to go on deployment overseas, he says, but they should feel certain that their humanitarian contribution to their local community is making a difference to the wider Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

A big family

John was in New Zealand briefly in November before heading to his new position as Head of Delegation, Country Cluster Delegation for South Asia for the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies (IFRC).

He’s moving after three and a half years heading the Country Cluster Delegation for Russia and Belarus and, before that, almost five years as an IFRC representative in Palestinian Territory.

“People say to me, Red Cross is like a big, huge family, and that’s always been what I have found. I have life-long friends in every country I’ve served."

“We’re harnessing the passion of humanitarians and it’s been an incredible experience and a privilege to have been holding the positions I have.”

A life of travel

A “third culture kid”, John was raised in Pakistan by New Zealand parents and says those early days set him on the path he treads today.

“I could see the need in some places for support, assistance and empowerment, and I wanted to be part of that.”

After training in New Zealand as a nurse and in public health, and with “itchy feet” to travel, he and his wife Francesca travelled back to Pakistan, where they worked with Afghan refugees before later taking up roles in Laos, first with Volunteer Service Abroad and later with Danish Red Cross.

John has spent time in roles with Danish Red Cross in Laos, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Uganda, as a primary health care advisor and heading up local offices.

In 2015, he moved again, this time to Palestine, before taking up a role there with the IFRC. He explains that the IFRC has offices, teams or employees in countries or clusters of countries where National Societies (the local Red Cross Red Crescent) have invited it to help with advice, support or programmes. As Head, he brings in employees who support the local society with their work.

Testing times

In Palestine, and later in Russia and Belarus, the IFRC’s work was to support the National Society as they dealt with humanitarian issues from ongoing conflicts.

The resilience of Red Cross volunteers in Palestine “is burned into my mind,” John says.

As is the dedication of so many to the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement wherever he has worked.

“We have to remain professional, neutral, impartial...but also to acknowledge that we are human, and we have personal characteristics."

“When we feel or see injustice, it can be hard to see how to acknowledge that and remain neutral. Sometimes it’s a struggle.”

Experiences such as being on the ground with the escalation of the conflict in Palestine or the population displacement which occurred when the Russia/Ukraine conflict broke out were testing times, John says.

However, as he heads off to South Asia, where there is currently no conflict but still a keen need for humanitarian diplomacy and other issues, such as the impact of climate change, John considers himself the lucky one.

“It’s been a privilege to travel. In each place, I feel slightly guilty sometimes – that I’ve taken more than I’ve given.”

While in New Zealand, John spent time with New Zealand Red Cross and Secretary General Sarah Stuart-Black is grateful for his willingness to share his decades of knowledge and skill, locally and wherever he serves.

“We are proud to have Kiwi humanitarians, here or overseas, helping the vulnerable and supporting communities, and making an impact like John," Sarah said.

“Volunteering is one of our Fundamental Principles, and on International Volunteering Day, we are delighted to celebrate their service.”

More information

Volunteers are at the heart of our Movement in 191 countries around the world, including right here in Aotearoa New Zealand. If you want to get involved, join us!
Join New Zealand Red Cross
Find a volunteer role

Learn more about how New Zealand Red Cross responds to needs internationally.
What we do overseas

Read about how we recruit skilled people and train them to work in international humanitarian and development roles overseas.
Our International Delegate programme

Lead image: John Entwistle