The Civil Defense Commission (CDC) has launched its Volunteer Corps, a group of young vibrant individuals of diverse professional backgrounds with a keen interest on disaster risk management.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the Volunteer Corps was initiated in February and launched on Friday last at a symposium at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal hosted by the CDC in observance of the International Disaster Risk Reduction Day.
The release said the event was in keeping with the theme for the day, which was: ‘Women and girls, the invisible force of resilience’. Students from several secondary schools and the University of Guyana, as well as scout groups, youth, volunteers and women’s organisations were all invited to be part of the symposium.
The new CDC Volunteer Corps is a group of well trained individuals who are capable of preparing for and effectively responding to disasters, coordinating responses at the community, regional, national and international levels, also training other individuals, the release said.
It quoted Major Kester Craig, who provided insight to the intention behind the Volunteer Corps and explained that disaster losses are on the rise worldwide and have grave consequences for survival; particularly affecting children and the poor.
Major Craig further explained that volunteers are persons who choose to act in recognition of a need with an attitude of social responsibility surpassing their individual and personal obligations. He also stated that a volunteer’s main concern was not monetary gain, but rather contributing to a particular cause for the good of society.
Thus far, the Volunteer Corps has been actively involved in a number of activities; establishing its effectiveness as a suitable group, the release said.
Any person who is interested in becoming a volunteer can visit the CDC website at www.cdcvolunteers.gy for more information.
