Singapore Red Cross Youth
Singapore Red Cross Youth Logo | |
Abbreviation | RCY |
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Motto | Humanity In Our Hands |
Formation | 1952 |
Type | Uniformed Group |
Headquarters | Red Cross House |
Location |
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Director | Mr. Sahari Bin Ani |
Affiliations | Singapore Red Cross Society |
Website | http://www.redcross.org.sg/articles/management-team |
In Singapore, Red Cross Youth (RCY) is a Uniformed Group for Primary School and Secondary School students. It has a membership of about 1500 Links (Primary School Students) and about 2500 Cadets (Secondary School Students) as of January 2015. There is also a non-uniformed wing - the RCY Chapters. There are currently 41 Link Units, 43 Cadet Units and 10 Chapter Units. RCY is one of the active divisions in the Singapore Red Cross. It also finances its own operations and activities.
History
The Red Cross Youth was formed in 1952, with Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary) having its first cadet unit. The Red Cross runs school-based youth programmes and is a Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) recognized by the Ministry of Education as an avenue for Character and Citizenship Education in Singapore schools. The Red Cross Youth has two programmes – one for the Primary School children (Link Programme) and another for Secondary School youths (Cadet Programme). The organization of youth activities under this approach has produced good results with both the Link units and Cadet Units, enthusiastically pursuing a series of activities ranging from social/recreational to community programmes.
Red Cross Youth Chapters (RCYC or RCY Chapters), previously known as the Red Cross Humanitarian Network (RCHN) was incorporated into Red Cross Youth from 1 July 2011.[1]
Mission, Vision & Values
Mission: The Red Cross Youth (RCY) is committed to engaging our youths in various local and international humanitarian programmes, including:
- Community Service
- Blood Donation and Donor Recruitment
- Disaster Management and Support
The 7 Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement shall guide leaders of RCY in developing and delivering programmes that will help the youths realise their tulles potential as responsible global citizen and confident team players
Vision: Confident and competent youths who are leaders within their communities, serving humanity and furthering the work of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement
Values: Compassion, Passion & Professionalism
Structure
The Singapore Red Cross Youth comes under the command of Singapore Red Cross Society with the following appointments:
Appointment | Incumbent |
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Patron | President of the Republic of Singapore |
Chairman | Mr. Tee Tua Ba |
The Singapore Red Cross Youth is also organised in a National Headquarters level with the following appointment:
Appointment | Incumbent |
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Director | Mr. Sahari Ani |
Red Cross Youth Song
Come let us pledge again, Each heart and hand, To thee the flag we serve, Friends in every land.
Come let us give anew, Each thought and mind, To be a light to shine, Over all mankind.
So may our emblem be proudly unfurled, To link the chain of youth for service through the world.
Oh give us strength to prove, Sure and sublime, To make the cause we serve, Shine over the hills of time.
Red Cross Youth Promise
We, as members of the Singapore Red Cross Society, promise to serve our country, and to join with others all over the world to help the sick and the suffering.— Singapore Red Cross Youth
Incentive Badges Scheme
The objective of the Incentive Badge Scheme is to encourage Link and Cadet members to take an interest in subjects outside their normal academic curriculum and to widen their interests by carrying out these activities during trainings. Such activities may also be organized by their respective Districts. Certain activities are also organized by Red Cross Headquarters.
The different badges are as follows:
Cadets Members
Achievements
- Director's Award Badge
Proficiency badges
- First Aid (Standard, Gold)
- Youth Ambassadors' Blood Programme (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
- Red Cross Knowledge (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
- Red Cross Service Learning (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
- Disaster Management (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
National Education badges
- Total Defence (Bronze, Silver, Gold)
- National Day Parade
- Singapore Youth Festival
- National Camp
- National Heritage
- SANA Anti-Drug and Inhalant Abuse
Fundamental Badges
- Foot Drill
- Outdoor Activities
Enrichment badges
- International Friendship
- Link-Cadet
Link Members
Core Subjects
- Basic First Aid (Foundation, Formative)
- Basic Red Cross Knowledge (Foundation, Formative)
- Youth Ambassadors' Blood Programme (Foundation, Formative)
- Red Cross Service (Foundation, Formative)
UG Fundamental Subjects
- Basic Outdoor Activities (Foundation, Formative)
- Basic Foot-Drill (Foundation, Formative)
Achievements
- Director's Award Badge
Non-Core Subjects
- Environment Education (Foundation, Formative)
- Health Education (Foundation, Formative)
- International Friendship
- Performing Arts (Foundation, Formative)
- Sports Education (Foundation, Formative)
Annual Events
Red Cross Youth hosts a variety of major events, performances, competitions and programmes. The events are as follows:
Type | Programme/Event |
---|---|
Competitions | First Aid Competition, Current Affairs Competition, Sports & Wellness Day |
Training | Modular Workshops, Unit Leaders' Programme, Volunteer Instructors' Programme, Unit Officers' Programme, Volunteer Officers' Programme |
Celebration/Recognition | Awards & Recognition Day |
Others | Red Cross Youth Challenge, Linkamania Camp, Youth Officers' Sharing Session, Overseas Humanitarian Programme, International Youth Exchange Programme |
Uniform
Rank structure
All listed ranks are in order of hierarchy, from top to bottom, left to right.
Link | Cadet | Volunteer Instructors | Youth Officers | Divisional Officers | Appointment Ranks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bronze Star | Private | Assistant Cadet Officer2 | Assistant Youth Officer3 | Assistant Divisional Officer | Deputy Director6 |
Silver Star | Lance Corporal | Cadet Officer | Youth Officer4 | Divisional Officer | Director6 |
Gold Star | Corporal | Senior Cadet Officer | Senior Youth Officer | Senior Divisional Officer5 | |
Sergeant | Principal Cadet Officer | ||||
Staff Sergeant | |||||
Warrant Officer | |||||
Senior Warrant Officer1 |
1Granted to outstanding cadets who have passed the Unit Leaders' Programme (ULP).
2Granted to Volunteer Instructors who have passed the Volunteer Instructors' Programme (VIP).
3Granted to Volunteer Instructors, aged 21 and above in the year of promotion, who have completed the Volunteer Officers' Programme (VOP).
4Granted to teachers who have completed the Unit Officers' Programme (UOP), or Assistant Youth Officers who have shown continued service.
5This is the highest possible rank an Officer can be promoted to.
6These are Appointment Ranks appointed by The Council.
Volunteer Instructors (VI)
Volunteer Instructors (VIs) are usually graduated cadets of various RCY units who wish to continue rendering service to the organization, at the school and/or headquarter level. Volunteer Instructors are required to undergo the Volunteer Instructors' Programme (VIP) organised by Red Cross Youth Headquarters. Trainees will undergo training to equip them with knowledge and skills to be an instructor in Red Cross Youth. All Instructors are required to obtain the Standard First Aid Certificate. When trainees successfully pass out from VIP, they will be appointed the rank of Assistant Cadet Officer.
Duties of a VI includes:
- Assisting the Youth Officer (YO) in preparing the unit's training work plan.
- Assisting in conducting training and organising of activities within the core curriculum of the RCY.
- Assisting in the organisation of activities for the respective district.
- Providing proper guidance and counselling to cadets and links, as well as to take charge of their welfare.
- Attending meetings at unit committees as a co-opted member to provide advice and expertise.
Awards and Commendations
Lanyards
Lanyard are awarded to cadets with outstanding performance in terms of leadership and/or skills in the following programmes/events. Lanyards are usually worn on the left shoulder as shown above. However, if a cadet attains more than one lanyard, he/she can only wear one.
Programme | Duration | % of cohort |
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Unit Instructors' Programme | Nov-Dec | 10 |
Unit Leaders' Programme | May–June | 10 |
Red Cross Youth Challenge | Dec | 10 |
Long Service Awards
Long Service Medals are awarded to Red Cross Volunteers as an appreciation for their active contributions in Singapore Red Cross.
Length of Service | Award |
---|---|
5 | Red Cross Bronze Star |
10 | Red Cross Silver Star |
15 | Red Cross Gold Star |
20 | Red Cross Platinum Star |
25 | Red Cross Diamond Star |
The UnI Channel
In order to allow the cadets to stay connect with Red Cross Youth and interact with other cadets. In 2009, Red Cross Youth publicity team launched a Facebook group and blog, both named The UnI Channel. The blog provides regular updates on Red Cross-related issues such as works of ICRC and IFRC to provide cadets with additional information pertaining to the work of the Red Cross. Besides factual information about the Red Cross, the blog would also discuss problems regarding unit management, teamwork and youth-related issues. Moderators would also put up photos of recent RCY events that have occurred (like the ones mentioned above). The blog has achieved high readership since its launch in 2009, as of August 2015, it has over 623,000 views.
The UnI Channel also include a UnI Youtube Channel and a Facebook account which contains photographs of various events that happen within the Red Cross Youth Spectrum. More recently, they launched Twitter and Instagram accounts to update readers on the Red Cross Red Crescent scene, both locally and internationally.
School Units
Schools are categorised into four districts, namely the North, South, East and West. Below are the districts and their respective schools. Award section updated on 23 Feb 2014
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