When the desire to help those in need crosses borders
Meiji Gakuin University’s educational philosophy is “Do for Others,” and it has forged a volunteer partnership with a humanitarian organization that shares this philosophy, the Japanese Red Cross Society.
The International Red Cross plays a critical role in cross-border humanitarian aid activities aimed at issues that the international community must address, such as conflict, the plight of refugees, natural disasters, emerging infectious diseases, and economic disparity.
Meiji Gakuin University has therefore invited International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Secretary General Elhadj Amadou Sy to give a special talk at the University.
IFRC President and President of the Japanese Red Cross Society Tadateru Konoe will explain the international activities of the Red Cross, and introduce Secretary General Sy.
What is the international role of the Red Cross, and what challenges does it face in an increasing mobile, chaotic world and society? How did Secretary General Sy become involved in the Red Cross, and how does he feel about its work now? This event will be an eye-opening, motivational opportunity to learn to think of international humanitarian issues as not just “someone else’s problem” but “our problem,” and take action.
Date/Time: Monday, October 2, 2017. Doors open at 4:45 PM; talk begins at 5:15 PM. *Scheduled to finish at 6:45 PM
Venue: Room 3101, Bldg. 3, Shirokane Campus, Meiji Gakuin University
Organizer: Meiji Gakuin University
Special Partner: The Japanese Red Cross Society
Notes: Free admission; no registration required. The talk will be held in English.
*Please be at the venue by the time the talk starts. No more guests will be admitted once all available seating is full.
Inquiries: Public Relations Division, General Planning Office, Meiji Gakuin University (03-5421-5247)
Related Link: http://www.ifrc.org/en/
Speakers
IFRC Secretary General Elhadj Amadou Sy
Following many years of service at NGOs in his native Senegal, Mr. Sy has held key posts at the HIV/AIDS Practice of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). He assumed his current position at the IFRC in August of 2014. The Secretary General is the chief executive officer of the IFRC, and also plays the important role of representing it to other agencies when the President is unable to.
IFRC President/Japanese Red Cross Society President Tadateru Konoe
Mr. Konoe joined the Japanese Red Cross Society in 1964, and became its President in 2005. He is involved in a wide range of Red Cross projects, from medical aid and blood drives to nurse training and humanitarian relief. In 2009, he was appointed President of the IFRC, a federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 190 countries. He visits conflict regions and disaster-stricken areas around the world, where he engages in humanitarian diplomacy under his personal motto ofsupporting support people in need where a humanitarian vacuum exists because of the position and actions of the government and the various parties involved in the conflict.
About the IFRC
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a coalition of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world. It mainly engages in general coordination of efforts such as disaster relief and public health projects. It is an independent humanitarian organization with a secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland, and over 60 representative offices worldwide.
About Red Crescent Societies
Given the cross’s associations with Christianity, the Red Crescent name and emblem are used instead of the Red Cross to conduct similar activities in many Muslim countries.