On 8 May, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day is celebrated all over the world. The date is no coincidence. It was chosen because it was on this day in 1828 that Jean Henri Dunant, considered the main architect of the foundation of this international organisation, was born in Geneva, Switzerland.
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1901, the Swiss humanist and philanthropist decided to found this Movement inspired by having seen with his own eyes the atrocious suffering endured by soldiers in field hospitals after the Battle of San Martino and Solferino (24 June 1859). Together with the jurist Gustave Moynier, General Guillaume-Henri Dufour and the doctors Louis Appia and Theodore Maunoir, Dunant created the ‘Geneva Committee for the Relief of Wounded Soldiers’ in his hometown in 1863, and this was actually the predecessor of today’s International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Since then, the Red Cross has gradually broadened its field of action to include the civilian sphere, and today it is the largest humanitarian organisation in the world, bringing together no less than 191 different national and international associations under its symbols.
Symbols, in the plural, because while the red cross on a white background is undoubtedly the most recognised logo, it was almost immediately joined by the crescent in the association’s early years. The organisation was born without any religious reference, but in 1879, the then Ottoman Empire nevertheless requested that the symbol traditionally identifying Islam be added, since the cross – chosen by the representatives of the nations (including the Kingdom of Italy) which signed, on October 29th 1863, the First Fundamental Convention – undoubtedly had obvious Christian roots. Other logos of a religious or political nature have joined the official ones over time (the Lion and the Rising Sun of Persia, the Star of David, to give a few examples). What has remained unchanged for 161 years, however, is the humanitarian vocation of the Red Cross, the principles which were then codified and put in writing at the Vienna Conference in 1965.
Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality are the values reiterated like a mantra at every official event of the Movement, which today gathers more than 115 million volunteers worldwide, of every denomination and culture. The activities of our University, which today joins the celebrations for this World Day, are also inspired by the same founding principles of the Red Cross. As stated in the University’s Statute, ‘The University observes the principles of impartiality and neutrality of the international Red Cross and Red Crescent movement. In particular, with regard to the former, it undertakes to make no distinction of nationality, race, religion, class or political opinion and, with regard to the latter, in order to enjoy the confidence of all, it will refrain from taking sides in hostilities of any kind and in political, racial and religious controversies’.
In Italy, under the aegis of the ICRC, the Italian Red Cross has been active since the beginnings of the International Movement. Under the High Patronage of the President of the Republic, it has as its mission to “[…] prevent and alleviate suffering impartially, without distinction of nationality, race, gender, religious belief, language, social class or political opinion, contributing to the preservation and promotion of human dignity and a culture of non-violence and peace”. At UniCamillus, in addition to fully sharing these values, we are proud to have several lecturers who are currently engaged with the Italian Red Cross or who have collaborated with it in the past. One of them is Professor Adriano Acciarino, who teaches General and Social Pedagogy and Social Psychology on the BSc Nursing and BSc Midwifery.
Recently, Prof. Acciarino served with the Italian Red Cross on quarantine ships for Covid-19, providing assistance in the field of psycho-traumatology. ‘Working as a psychologist with the Italian Red Cross was my first experience in the third sector’, he said. ‘I was able to understand the dynamics of volunteering and the force that drives people to help others, so much so that I then decided to become a volunteer myself in the field of emergency psychology, with the SIPEM SoS Lazio volunteer organisation’. Working with the Red Cross has also allowed Prof. Acciarino to increase his experience, helping to complete his training in what has now become his main area of expertise: ‘I have learnt a great deal about the psychologist’s job, especially in terms of active and intercultural listening: working with migrants allows you to learn about unique life stories, which enrich your humanistic skills. I have recognised myself more and more every day in the 7 principles of the Red Cross, and I have applied them in my work not only with patients, but also with colleagues, with whom I have built very meaningful human relationships, some of which are now true friendships based on esteem and respect’.
Field experience alongside the Italian Red Cross leaves almost all volunteers with indelible memories of what they experienced. And Prof. Acciarino is no exception. One anecdote in particular has stayed with him, first and foremost from a human point of view: ‘I remember this boy, half Tunisian and half Eritrean, a victim of racism in Tunisia and Libya because of his darker skin colour. He suffered from panic attacks, and one evening when he was just a bit upset, together with a very good Arabic-speaking cultural mediator we offered him a chamomile tea. He didn’t know what it was, so we explained to him that it would help him calm down a bit without having to take medication. From that evening on, for several days before he disembarked from the ship, the mediator and I went to see him, always at the same time, to offer him chamomile tea and a moment of recreation and dialogue for which, when he then disembarked, he couldn’t stop thanking us’.
Photo credits: Italian Red Cross