Sunday, October 21, 2012


Sudan Participates in Pan African Conference in Addis Ababa
Khartoum - Sudanese Red Crescent Society headed by Professor Hussein Suleiman Abu-Saleh has participated in the 8th Pan African Conference involving leaders of the continent’s national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, held in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa.
Hundreds of Red Cross Red Crescent leaders representing African National Societies and their partners October 20th united in Addis Ababa for the 8th Pan African Conference (PAC).
Held every four years, the conference is an opportunity for delegates from across the continent to come together to discuss humanitarian and development challenges facing Africa, to exchange ideas and experiences, and to pave a way forward for the coming years.
The predominant theme of PAC 2012 is “Investing in Africa”. With economic growth and private sector investment steadily overtaking the traditional model of aid dependency in Africa, it is vital for Red Cross Red Crescent leaders to work together and develop a business model that is self-sustainable, healthy, and designed and owned by the African people.
In tandem with the conference in Addis Abba, Sudanese Red Crescent Society will hold today a partnership meeting with 25 national Red Crescent societies; representatives the International Federation of Red Cross Red Crescent Societies., Geneva based International Committee of the Red Cross, Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization. The participants will debate work papers on humanitarian situation, in general, challenges faced with focus on conditions in South Kordufan and Blue Nile states, post secession Sudan, priorities and future strategies to map out way forward. The participants also seek to be attractive to investors to supply funds for development and health projects in favor impoverished groups in communities.
“Africa has all the resources that it requires to grow,” said Daniel Tegenu, President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society. “We need to tap into those resources and begin building relations with local partners to broaden our stakeholder base. It is up to us to make this happen. We need to take ownership and begin relying less on traditional sources of funding.”
Investing in Africa also means investing in youth to ensure young people have a voice at the decision-making table. The first day of the Pan African Conference is dedicated to youth, focusing on the diverse ways young people are investing in Africa, such as using information technology to improve access and quality of service to those most vulnerable.
“This conference is an opportunity for us to harness the energy that comes with youth, to hear their ideas and compile them into a concrete action plan through 2016,” said Geoffrey Korir, co-chair of the Red Cross Red Crescent Youth Commission in Africa. “Young people have a lot of enthusiasm and, collaboratively, can be strong instruments of change.”
The conference seeks investment to specify the importance of alleviating suffering on the continent through meaningful investment of human, material and financial resources in communities.
Korir demonstrated support to empowering youth and volunteers to help promote human values build peace and prevent violence. He appealed to nationals societies for the need to create partnerships within or outside the movement to achieve success. He also hoped that African National Societies would work with parliaments to acquaint them with their activities to solicit their support.

By Haffiya Elyas, 

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