by Sabra_TXT | Dec 8, 2022 | news
November concluded with a small highlight for IBC: the workshop “Self-help in Africa”. Blue Cross representatives from various African countries came together in Johannesburg, South Africa, to further improve their work in the field of self-help and community work. In the five-day workshop, General Secretary Anne and program coordinator Sophie worked with the participants using role-plays, case studies and practical exercises to make their programs even more effective. In an open exchange, participants discussed various cases they were confronted with and spoke about typical difficulties in their community and self-help work.
In this way, the IBC self-help program in Africa is gradually being placed on an increasingly solid footing. In African countries in particular, self-help programs are a very important factor in letting people with addiction problems and their families receive support, orientation and the chance to lead a healthy life. In their societies it is usually not possible for them to gain access to appropriate health services within the the national health system.
by Anna Schwaller | Nov 8, 2022 | news
IBC General Secretary Anne and IBC Programme Officer Sybille are back from their field visit in Tanzania. They had a fantastic week of activities and most important meetings with Education authorities, Head of Arusha City, many schools and head masters. The IBC prevention programme has been successfully running in Tanzania since 2020. The appreciated work performed by Blue Cross Society of Tanzania gained the trust of local communities and receive government support. It was a week full of revising and working to improve the Life Skills Programme and gaining quality results for youth further. Find out more about the programme in our programmes section!
by Sabra_TXT | Aug 15, 2022 | news
Visit us on August 26 in Bern and get to know our team and our work! You will get a first-hand insight into our programmes with a focus on our work with youth, communities, schools and local stakeholders in Africa.
Our “open afternoon” starts informally from 2 p.m. – you can connect with IBC staff and the IBC General Secretary Anne Babb and discuss our work in Chad, Togo, Tansania and the Republic of Congo and other countries. For those interested we have films and short interviews with our project partners and beneficiaries ready to be shown.
The official open door event begins then at 5 PM directly next to our office, at Café Azzurro in Lindenrain 5.
Program:
16:45 Admission and refreshments
17:00 Welcome
17:15 IBC work today
17:30 Impact of donations
18:00 Light buffet and networking
If you intend to pass by, please let us know by writing us an e-mail to: office@internationalbluecross.org or phone us: +41 31 301 89 04
We are looking forward to seeing you!
by Sabra_TXT | May 31, 2022 | news
The International Blue Cross mourns with the wife, Florence, the family and many, many friends and members of the worldwide Blue Cross family.
Albert Moukolo passed away on 18.05.2022 shortly before his 71st birthday completely unexpectedly and for all of us much too early.
Through his death, we lose a personality who shaped the International Blue Cross for decades.
Due to his own involvement as a relative of an addict, he very soon turned to the Congolese Blue Cross and became a member and leader of the Congo Blue Cross. He studied psychology and eventually also earned his doctorate on a topic related to the treatment of alcoholism, eventually living in Switzerland and holding various teaching positions in Lausanne and Geneva.
In addition to his own co-affliction and the professional expertise Albert had acquired, he possessed a heart and passion for people affected by addiction. This quality opened many doors for him to assist, counsel and accompany addicted people into a new life. And Albert made use of all these open doors. With strength and commitment, he stood up for deaf people with addiction, for example, and founded the first organization for deaf people with addiction in Switzerland. He learned sign language only to be able to help these people.
Growing up and living in different cultures, he was an excellent bridge builder between the worlds of the International Blue Cross. He served on the IBC Board of Directors from 1999 and was its President from 2012 to 2021. All those who accompanied him in the work of the board could learn a lot from Albert Moukolo. He was valued and loved by all members of the board. We lose a strong leader, a caring partner and a highly valued friend. We can only thank God from the bottom of our hearts for this exceptionally gifted personality, as well as his wife Florence and children for making it possible for Albert to be so involved with IBC!”
For all that, Albert was also a person who lived his relationship with his God and Creator and with Jesus Christ convincingly and consciously. This could be experienced in his encounters even without words. For many people Albert was an important example, also for me!
Therefore, the word of the Bible now also applies to Albert: The Lord says: “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine!” (Isaiah.43:1b)
And because we as Christians know that we may meet again in God’s home, we deliberately say at this point, “Goodbye Albert. See you again!”
Reinhard Jahn, President of the International Blue Cross
PDF Nachruf für Dr. Albert Moukolo (03.06.1951 – 18.05.2022)
PDF Nécrologie du Dr Albert Moukolo (03.06.1951 – 18.05.2022)
by Sabra_TXT | Jan 6, 2022 | news
Blue Cross Tanzania cooperated with the City Council in Arusha and conducted a two-day training for gender focal points from four different wards. In total 69 participants took part in the training to learn more about the following points:
1. Promote positive parenting skills among parents, caregivers and community members.
2. Promote norms and values that empower women and support non-violent, respectful, positive, nurturing and gender-equitable relationships
3. Enforce laws relating to rights of women and children.
4. Train ward VAWC protection committees on their roles and responsibilities
Even with the travel restrictions due to covid the IBC secretariat team collaborates closely with its members on line.
by Sabra_TXT | Dec 17, 2021 | news
IBC wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We are really thankful for this last year. Thank you so much to all our donors, members and volunteers. We look back on a year full of break throughs, healings, learning a lot of new things, conduct new projects, growth from our Self Help groups and working with new volunteers. Thank you all for being part of IBC and changing the lives of many!
We wish you a time of rest and peace during this Christmas season. Enjoy this time with your families and friends. May you experience healing and renewed strength as we look into the future and start 2022.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
IBC
Visit us on August 26 in Bern and get to know our team and our work! You will get a first-hand insight into our programmes with a focus on our work with youth, communities, schools and local stakeholders in Africa.
The International Blue Cross mourns with the wife, Florence, the family and many, many friends and members of the worldwide Blue Cross family.
