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Royal reception highlights importance of local skills
08 February 2012
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has thanked RedR’s corporate, institutional and individual supporters for their ongoing commitment to building the skills of local aid workers, helping to save lives in countries affected by disasters.
Speaking at an annual reception for Patron organisations and companies held in central London in February, The Princess Royal outlined how RedR is equipping thousands of people each year, many of them nationals of disaster-hit countries, with essential technical knowledge and humanitarian know-how.
She said: “In Pakistan, a country ravaged by natural and man-made disasters in recent years, RedR is having a real impact on people’s lives. It is heartening to know that communities which were supported by trained aid workers in the aftermath of the 2010 and 2011 floods recovered much more quickly than those which were left to pick up the pieces themselves.”
Similar life-saving work is being done in East Africa, Sudan and South Sudan, the Princess said, as well as in a wide-range of countries served by RedR’s tailor-made training service, which served humanitarians in 26 countries last year.
HRH The Princess Royal, who has been President of RedR for 24 years, said: “In the early 80s, the founders saw then what the organisation still sees today – that effective response to catastrophes requires skilled, professional aid workers.
"Over the past year, more than 6000 people around the world have learnt essential skills– everything from how to deliver aid programmes safely, to managing humanitarian projects effectively, to water and sanitation expertise. Together, we are making a real difference to the lives of people affected by disasters.”
The 150-strong audience included high-level representatives from AECOM, Arup, Bestech, Balfour Beatty, CH2M HILL, Halcrow Group, Sandberg LLP, the Institution of Civil Engineers and many others.
Guy Leonard, Managing Director for Europe and Africa at engineering and development consultancy Mott MacDonald – a RedR Patron – spoke of the company’s proud association with the charity, saying it is a “uniquely special force for good in the world”.
He said: “Every bit of financial support for RedR has a disproportionately positive effect on the ground because for each aid worker trained; their influence filters out to many individuals, families and communities in need around the world.”
Mr Leonard said the company’s staff are particularly engaged with RedR. “Our partnership is a key morale booster for us and was a significant component in our being voted the ‘Best Big Company for Giving Something Back’ in last year’s Sunday Times listings”, he said.
Photo: HRH The Princess Royal gives a certificate of RedR Patronage to Neil Sandberg, Managing Director of Sandberg LLP.
