Moving Mountains: Unique World Youth Gathering in Solferino Italy

Right now, thousands are gathering in the fields around Solferino, northern Italy (birthplace of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement) to commemorate 150 years of the Red Cross. This is a remarkable event in many ways - youth representatives from some 150 countries will be present and will spend the next days working on a declaration to bring about positive change and to identify, from their perspective, what are the real contemporary humanitarian challenges that need to be addressed. Importantly, from a media guy's point of view, this event will also be a rare opportunity to listen and learn from a global representation of the younger generation on how we, as humanitarian organizations, can better engage with and more effectively communicate to our emerging activists, journalists, leaders and decision makers. There is also a special focus on harnessing new media technologies in a genuine effort to reach out and make that conversation with youth. Here below, to give you a flavour of the event, the first video diary, fresh from 'the field', produced by and for our Youth on the Move as part of our global Our World. Your Move. campaign.

Our World Your Move

Today, around the world, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is launching a global campaign to mark 150 years since its birth on the battlefields of Solferino in Italy. All these years later the Red Cross is still battling today's humanitarian challenges in conflict and disaster zones, on the human cost of climate change and migration, in prisons and refugee camps, and in countless other corners of the world - including Italy - where a simple humanitarian gesture can go a long way.

The theme of the global campaign is precisely about encouraging more individual humanitarian 'moves' to make a difference and to be a force for positive change in a fast-changing world. It is a call to action. We have a collective responsibility to make our world a better place. It's up to each of us, as individuals, to make a move and do something to help others. Young or old, we can all make a difference. Our World. Your Move.

This is very much an online campaign, reaching out to new audiences though social media and viral videos.

I hope you can find the time to explore the website and cruise the videos.

/PC