Helping hands: PU signs MoU with Red Crescent for volunteer force

University to register 35,000 <br /> students, staff for volunteer work.

LAHORE: The University of the Punjab and the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Monday to develop a volunteer force.

Under the accord, over 35,000 students and staff of the university will be enrolled as volunteers to help people during natural disasters. The students will be asked for their consent to work as volunteers at the time of their enrollment with the university.

The agreement was signed by PRCS secretary general Dr Mahboob Sardar and University of the Punjab Vice Chancellor Mujahid Kamran at a ceremony held at the Centre for Undergraduate Studies.

Talking to reporters, the PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran said that PU students had always played an important role whenever the country faced any natural calamity. “The new generation has the passion to serve humanity, but needs a platform through which they can participate in relief activities. This MoU will provide PU students an opportunity to help people during floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters,” Kamran said.

PRCS Chairman Dr Saeed Elahi said that the society had itself set a target to expand the volunteer force to 5 million. “Engaging the youth at schools, colleges and universities is one of our top priorities. We are establishing new youth clubs, revitalising existing ones and imparting training on first aid, disaster management and response during various emergencies,” Elahi said.

He said that PRCS had signed similar MoUs with Allama Iqbal Open University and the Roots Millennium Schools.

“So far, PRCS has signed agreements for enlisting over 1.6 million new volunteers. He appreciated the support of the PU.

He expressed the hope that both the intuitions would work closely for the welfare of humanity. “Under the MoU, the PRCS will issue the volunteer’s identity cards to the registered students. The society will also organise training sessions for students and the university staff,” he said.

The two sides also decided to establish a working relationship for mobilising and training youth volunteers.

It was also decided that the PRCS would establish self-sustainable youth clubs at all departments and campuses of the university and provide training for capacity building of club members.

According to the MoU, the students and university staff would be given an opportunity to participate in trainings, demonstrations, workshops, seminars and camps.

Mujeebur Rehman Shami, Sohail Warraich, Attaur Rehman, Dr Ajmal Niazi, Punjab University Academic Staff Association (ASA) president Dr Ehsan Sharif, Prof Dr Zakaria Zakir, Prof Dr Amir Ejaz, External Linkages Director Dr Maria Maldonado were also present on the occasion.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 30^th, 2014.