Our volunteers are committed, hard working and inspiring people. They give up their own time to do work that improves the lives of people they don’t even know. After the tsunami Red Cross volunteers worked day and night recovering bodies, distributing relief items, providing water, food and emotional support to survivors of the disaster.

Get to know some of faces behind the work Red Cross does in the community.

Isara Iose Jr.

Isara in action showing the community how white blood cells defend the body against HIV

Isara first started with Red Cross as a first aider in 2004 helping during the response phase Cyclone Heta. Since then he has moved around different areas of Red Cross contributing his skills and picking up new ones.

‘I am so proud to be a volunteer. What we are learning is important for different aspects of our lives and my family also benefits because at the end of the day I talk to them about what I learnt’

‘I realise that 90% of my capacity and achievements were because of my experience at Red Cross. I enjoy learning from people who have experience in different areas’, says Isara.

He is in his final year studying at the National University of Samoa but also makes time to volunteer each day. Among many of his achievements in life he obtained a scholarship to study a Diploma in Community Services and Welfare in Fiji.

‘In my future I want to utilize my skills from my Diploma in Community Services and Welfare and work in Red Cross to benefit our people’ says Isara.

Lauao Taupau

Lauao is an active volunteer in the Administration team working at reception, doing office work, and providing support wherever needed.

Her involvement with Red Cross started in 1995 when she worked as an Accounts Clerk. She took a break after having children and staying home to take care of them for a few years.

After the tsunami struck in 2009, she returned to offer her skills in various areas. She helped identify the needs of people affected by the tsunami, provide emotional support and distributed relief items.

‘I feel happy lending a hand to those who need help but it also helps me’, says Lauao.

Volunteering at Red Cross gives her the chance to refresh her administration and finance skills and develop new skills such as completing a computer course, which Red Cross supported.

‘I want to build my experience to learn many new things I didn’t get since I left’, says Lauao.

Outside of the office, Lauao also helps at first aid services at sporting matches.