HEALTH CARE & MEDICAL
"Our success stems from understanding community needs, fostering partnerships, and delivering exceptional care."
12 December 2024
What have been the main factors that have allowed the Costa Rican Red Cross to successfully provide humanitarian aid and emergency services across the country?
The Costa Rican Red Cross has more than 140 years of experience providing humanitarian services throughout Costa Rica. From its very beginning, and due to its auxiliary role to public authorities, the National Society has responded to the country’s need for a reliable first responder in prehospital and disaster emergencies. This long-standing mandate, combined with strong community presence, trained volunteers, and close coordination with public institutions, has allowed the Costa Rican Red Cross to deliver timely, effective, and trusted humanitarian assistance nationwide.
What are the Costa Rican Red Cross’s main programs and services today?
Today, the main humanitarian programs of the Costa Rican Red Cross are structured around four key areas that respond to the most important needs of communities across the country:
- Risk Management and Emergency Response Program: Focus on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, including prehospital emergency care, search and rescue, and assistance during all kinds of emergencies.
- Elderly Program: Aims to protect and improve the quality of life of older adults by promoting dignity, inclusion, and access to essential services, as well as providing humanitarian assistance to elderly people both within the community and among Red Cross volunteers and staff.
- Youth Program: The institution empowers children and young people as agents of change, promoting humanitarian values, leadership, volunteerism, and community engagement from an early age.
- Doctrine and Protection Program: ensures the promotion and application of the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and the protection of people affected by emergencies, strengthening respect for human dignity and humanitarian values in all actions.
How does the Costa Rican Red Cross stand out among other humanitarian organizations in Costa Rica?
As part of the National Emergency System, we play a critical role in coordinating emergency response nationwide. Our unique mandate, combined with strong technical and professional capacity, a highly committed volunteer network, and deep roots in communities across the country, makes the Costa Rican Red Cross a trusted and indispensable humanitarian actor in Costa Rica.
In which regions or communities does the Costa Rican Red Cross operate, and how have you expanded your reach over time?
The Costa Rican Red Cross operates in the country through 133 branches strategically located in communities across the entire national territory. Its presence extends to urban, coastal, rural, border, and high-risk areas, ensuring nationwide coverage and rapid response capacity.
The institution’s work is made possible by more than 5,600 volunteers and 1,300 staff members, supported by a fleet of approximately 700 vehicles, including ambulances, operational units, and search-and-rescue vehicles.
Over time, the Costa Rican Red Cross has expanded its reach by strengthening local capacities and continuously adapting its services to evolving risks and community needs. This strong territorial presence enables the institution to respond quickly and effectively to emergencies wherever they occur.
How do you engage with volunteers, donors, and partners to support your mission and serve communities effectively?
Engagement with volunteers, donors, and partners is fundamental to the Costa Rican Red Cross’s mission.
To engage volunteers, the organization invests in continuous training, leadership development, recognition programs, and a clear humanitarian mission that fosters long-term commitment, a sense of belonging, and professional growth. Volunteers are at the heart of the institution and play a key role in delivering services and strengthening community resilience.
In partnership with donors and partners, the Costa Rican Red Cross promotes transparency, accountability, and clear communication about the impact of every contribution. Donors can be confident that their support is used exclusively to fulfill the institution’s humanitarian mission: to save lives, relieve suffering, and prevent human suffering.
A meaningful example of this trust is a recent posthumous donation made by Ms. Flory Ocampo, who bequeathed USD 223,079.67 to the Costa Rican Red Cross. Thanks to her generous contribution, the institution was able to acquire two ambulances—now named Flory—which will strengthen emergency response capacity and help save countless lives across the country.
Additionally, strategic alliances with public institutions, private companies, community organizations, and international partners enable the Costa Rican Red Cross to strengthen its operational capacity, mobilize resources, and ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it most.
