Enhanced Empathy,
by encouraging individuals to understand and care about other’s suffering and needs, as well as
Increased Resilience,
by teaching them how to cope with and recover from personal and community crises
The IFRC Reference Center
for Humanitarian Education
We are creating a Reference Center
to enhance humanitarian education worldwide
and to emphasize its ever-growing importance
by promoting teaching, learning and research.
Humanitarian Education - an Education in Humanity
Humanitarian education lays the foundation for a more empathetic, responsible and peaceful society, bringing significant benefits to individuals and society as a whole:
Improved Conflict Resolution Skills,
by promoting peaceful approaches to addressing and resolving conflicts, as well as
Improved Critical Thinking,
enabling individuals to analyze complex situations and make informed, ethical decisions
Better Knowledge of Human Rights & International Humanitarian Law,
empowering people to advocate for their own rights and the rights of others, as well as
Improved Inclusion,
by encouraging respect for diversity and reducing prejudices,
leading to more cohesive and inclusive communities
Increased Community Engagement,
by strengthening community bonds and support social systems,
as well as
Increased Social Responsibility,
motivating people to act upon improving others’ lives and address social injustices
Our Strategic Goals
Training & Development
- to increase the number of educators trained in teaching humanitarian ideologies,
- to support the integration of humanitarian subject matters into the formal curriculum, and
- to increase the number of children, adolescents and young adults reached by humanitarian education.
Research
- to scientifically reinforce the significance of humanitarian education, especially in socio-emotional intelligence,
- to build a strong scientific evidence base for the development of humanitarian education programs, and
- to facilitate partnerships between National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, research institutions and other relevant organizations at international, national, regional and local levels.
First Steps in 2025 with the Launch of the Reference Center:
- Development of Trainer Courses and E-Learning Materials for Teachers and Educational Personnel
- Research project on the impact of Humanitarian Education on Psychological Well-Being
Share the vision and join us!
We work with a network of partners to expand humanitarian education within formal programs worldwide.
Our Reference Center facilitates educators, academic and research institutions, international organizations, foundations as well as with 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies globally and dedicated partners – like you!
You can support humanitarian education and inspire change in the world:
- by providing financial support and other resources to the Reference Center
- by supporting research on humanitarian education and its impact—for instance by funding studies, sharing available data and publications, or disseminating research results
- by helping integrate humanitarian education into the curriculum and develop educators‘ training and learning resources
Contact us to learn how you can get involved: RCHE@roteskreuz.at
Thank you for visiting our booth at the IFRC International
Conference in Geneva in October.
We truly appreciate your interest, the engaging exchanges,
and your valuable support.
“Humanitarian Education
- an education in humanity”
We are the Austrian Red Cross with decades of expertise in the implementation of humanitarian education programs within the formal education sector.
Our extensive experience has cultivated a firm belief that education is more than just a tool for sharing knowledge.
Humanitarian Education enables individuals
to interpret situations from a humanitarian perspective
and develop the knowledge, values and skills
that empower them to take action.
This form of education is values-driven, needs-based
and people-centered.
Supporting SDGs
concerning:
Quality Education,
Good Health and Well-Being
&
Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
IFRC RED Education Flagship Program
The IFRC strives to enhance safe, continuous and equitable access to inclusive quality education for all individuals - especially children, adolescents and young adults, as well as those affected by crisis, left behind or excluded from education systems and societies due to their social and political vulnerability.
Through its five-year RED Education flagship program, by 2030 the IFRC aims to have supported 40 million children and young people, 1 million teachers and education personnel, in 100 000 schools and other educational spaces, across 100 countries.