International tracing and message volunteering
"I couldn’t believe it was my brothers. We spent five minutes crying.”
Apply now |
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When families are separated by war or disaster, our volunteers search for lost loved ones and put them back in contact. How are your listening skills?
How would I be helping people?
As an international tracing and message service (ITMS) volunteer, you could help vulnerable people by:
- interviewing people who have lost contact with a relative because of war or disaster
- tracing missing relatives in the UK or overseas
- delivering family news overseas by sending a Red Cross message.
What skills and training do I need?
You need to be detail-oriented, an excellent listener and able to help people fill out forms. Language skills are desirable but not always necessary.
We will give you the training and support you will need for this role.
How much time do I need to give up?
You and your volunteering manager will discuss how much time you are able to give. Since our volunteering opportunities depend on local needs, some areas may need volunteers more regularly or for longer hours than others. If one of our services requires more time than you are able to give, we may have other volunteering opportunities that fit your schedule.
Why are volunteers needed?
Without volunteers we would never be able to give people the help they need in a crisis. Because we offer so many services across the UK, we depend on people who generously give up their time to help others.
How do I apply?
You can search and apply online for ITMS volunteering opportunities. You can also talk to a service manager about current opportunities near you.
True story: Volunteers reunite brothers
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| A young man was put back in touch with his brothers in the Democratic Republic of Congo thanks to Red Cross ITMS volunteers.
Eugene Kavira (17) was separated from his twin Job and 14-year-old Akabo several years ago. | | |  | |
| He had been held captive in a cave by rebels before managing to escape the country. He found himself alone in Glasgow and contacted local ITMS volunteers and asked them to find his brothers.
Frank Higgins, ITMS manager, said: “Our tracing service took six months to find Job and Akabo. I telephoned Eugene and asked him to come in and see me. For the first time ever Eugene asked to get out of school early and was here at the speed of light.
“We got him a telephone number [for his brothers]. Since then he’s never stopped smiling.”
Eugene said: “They couldn’t believe it was me and I couldn’t believe it was them. We spent five minutes crying.”
Apply now | |
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