We came across two stories this week that made us extra proud to be part of the global Red Cross Red Crescent network. Especially after our colleague Jenelle spent a month aboard the Responder rescuing migrants from the Mediterranean Sea, our eyes are peeled for other outstanding ways our fellow humanitarians serve those displaced by war or conflict.
Handing Out Hope, A Virtual Reality Documentary
The Swedish Red Cross teamed up with EdgeDNA to create The Migrants Trail, a virtual reality video providing a “new perspective on the challenges faced by some of the worlds most marginalized individuals: refugees fleeing the war that has consumed Syria.” There are more than 65 million refugees in the world right now, fleeing from war, oppression and persecution. That’s the highest number of displaced people than at any time in recorded history.
As described in the video, the Red Cross Red Crescent works across the globe to help secure life and dignity for people in vulnerable situations. How? With millions of Red Cross Red Crescent volunteers and tailor-made solutions, like a bakery in Serbia that makes over 7,000 loaves of bread each day for refugees. Yep, you read that right.
The virtual reality video in the first link is filmed in 360, so take the chance to use your mouse to drag the video around and explore the story from all angles.
Ikea set up a model of a ‘typical Syrian home’ in its flagship store
All they wanted was a new dresser. But shoppers at an Ikea in Norway got a dose of reality when they stumbled upon this installation, shedding light on struggling Syrian families.
As Business Insider explains, “Rana’s family currently receives food and other donations from the Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), a humanitarian organization [that works alongside the] International Committee of the Red Cross. The Red Cross partnered with Ikea to build a replica of Rana’s home at the flagship store in Oslo, so that shoppers could explore it and empathize with her story.”
We salute our colleagues across the world working to help families like Rana’s, just as we mourn those we’ve lost. Since the conflict began in 2011, 53 Syrian Red Crescent and 8 Palestine Red Crescent volunteers and staff have been killed in the line of duty.
Did we miss any other outstanding Red Cross stories? Let us know in the comments!