Red Cross Organisation, Bulgaria
Bulgarian Red Cross is a voluntary
organisation, part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and
is guided by its Fundamental Principles: Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality,
Independence, Voluntary Service, Unity and Universality. Through its network of
volunteers in the whole country, the BRC renders assistance to the vulnerable
people in disaster and crisis situations. By means of training programmes and
activities for the benefit of the public, the National Red Cross Society
contributes to alleviating and preventing the suffering in all its forms,
protects health and life and ensures respect for the human being.
The Bulgarian Red Cross has the following strategic priorities:
- To react quickly and effectively to the
vulnerability on a local scale;
- To direct its efforts to the areas where it
could be most influential and achieve the best possible results. These core
areas constitute the mainstay for the authority, entity and significance of the
overall organization, such as:
- To popularise and affirm the Fundamental
Principles of the Movement and its basic humanitarian values;
- To assist in disaster situations;
- To assure disaster preparedness;
- To provide health and social care for the benefit
of the public.
- To reform and enhance its capacity
(especially in the field of financial resources) so as to become "a
well-functioning National Society" that contributes to the development and
consolidation of civil society in Bulgaria.
Main areas of activity:
- Support and participation independently or in cooperation with other
formations and specialised services for prevention and reduction of effects of
disasters, accidents and calamities/crises;
Preparedness and assistance in accordance with its capacity in response
to appeals of other States and National Societies in times of disasters and
conflicts;
Collection and distribution of humanitarian aid and donations from the country
and abroad;
Assistance to vulnerable and impoverished citizens, social and medical
institutions etc., and provision of social and health services;
Organisation of and maintaining social institutions;
- Social assistance and organizing health and care activities, social legal and
psychological consultations;
- Protecting and improving people’s health, prevention of diseases and traumas
through educational programmes and activities;
- Organisation of training events and courses in first pre-medical aid, first
psychological aid, drug addicts’ problems, HIV/AIDS, promotion of
non-remunerated blood donation, etc.;
- Training, qualifying and re-qualifying of staff members, with a view to
implementing the organisational activities and achieving its goals, and issuing
the respective certificates;
- Organisation and participation in meetings, seminars, courses, conferences,
press conferences, competitions and reviews on the major activities of the
Bulgarian Red Cross and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.