The roots and beginnings of the Red Cross in Slovenia date back to 1866, just three years after the establishment of the international Red Cross organisation.
On 18 June 1944, in the small town of Gradac in White Carniola (Bela krajina), the story of the Red Cross of Slovenia began anew, as the organisation was re-established that day with the convening of its founding assembly.
Today, the Red Cross of Slovenia comprises 56 local associations (RKS – LA). Under its umbrella, more than 15,000 volunteers are active, who last year collectively contributed nearly half a million hours of voluntary work. Every year, through various forms of assistance, they help and improve the lives of over 100,000 people. With the support of donors, they enable free holidays for 1,700 children and 150 elderly people from socially disadvantaged backgrounds.
Through the initiative (B)ecome Part of the Team ((P)ostani del moštva), the Red Cross of Slovenia raises awareness of the importance of blood donation, with local associations organising around 400 field blood donation campaigns every year. Through educational picture books featuring Henri the Bear on the topic of first aid, they reach an even wider audience and convey that anyone can save a life. The organisation educates, trains, and develops the first aid skills of the general public, supports migrants, and acts as a first responder to public authorities in emergencies and disasters.
The photography exhibition at Jakopič Promenade provides an overview of their work and activities over the past ten years – from dedicated volunteers and their efforts to protect humanity, through responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fire in the Karst region, and the centennial floods in summer 2023, to various social activities, holidays for children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, work with migrants, diverse first aid teams – their training, exercises, international cooperation and national assessments; and, last but not least, blood donors, without whom life could not continue.
The photography exhibition offers a snapshot and review of the committed and heartfelt collective work of the Red Cross of Slovenia over the past ten years – a small, yet extremely important and eventful piece of the organisation’s rich 160-year history.
