My involvement with the Movement began more than fifteen years ago with a simple but fundamental act: volunteering. Since 2008, my career with the Central African Red Cross has been marked by a variety of experiences and responsibilities, all with the same common thread: first aid, community outreach, and knowledge transfer.

My name is Danielle SEREFIO FEINDIRO, and I am currently Secretary General of the Central African Red Cross. I have held this position with honor for four years, after serving as a first responder, instructor, project manager for disaster preparedness and COVID response, and much more.

This journey has strengthened my conviction that first aid is not simply a tool for intervention, but a lever for human and social transformation.

At the Central African Red Cross, we have made first aid education one of our pillars. In a national context marked by recurring crises and often limited access to healthcare, we felt it was essential to act as closely as possible to the needs on the ground. That is why we have set up numerous training courses for our volunteers, local communities, businesses, and specific groups such as drivers. In addition, to improve the quality of our interventions, we have initiated the creation of a national curriculum in life-saving skills. This work has been directly informed by lessons learned from our experiences in the field, particularly during times of crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Of course, this does not come without obstacles. One of the major challenges we face today is integrating new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, into our first aid practices. This requires a real ability to adapt, especially as the reality on the ground remains complex: for example, access to adequate equipment, particularly first aid kits, is not a given. However, I remain convinced that with commitment and a clear vision, the ambitious goal of training one first responder in every family is achievable.

In my view, the Global First Aid Reference Center plays an essential role in this dynamic: that of a visionary coordinator and a space for dialogue, innovation, and support. Through exchanges with other National Societies and GFARC training courses, I have been able to deepen my passion for first aid, which I see almost as part of my DNA. Saving a life is more than just an act, it is a source of inner peace and meaning.

A memorable experience on the street taught me the crucial importance of technical mastery and ethics in first aid. That is why I always place great importance on the quality of training.

I remember with emotion the beaming faces of participants after a successful training course, when they realize their ability to act. And it is often among the youngest that this pride is most visible: once trained, they become our best ambassadors. If I could send them a message, I would encourage them to keep this desire to help others and to pass it on to those around them.

Danielle SEREFIO FEINDIRO

Secretary General

Central African Red Cross