10.08.2021

October 7, 2021– International Blue Cross (IBC) is happy to announce that Reinhard Jahn has been elected president at its General Assembly on 07 October, which -due to the pandemic- took place in an online format.
Reinhard Jahn, CEO of the Blue Cross Germany, has extensive professional experience in the field of addiction and due to his position in the Blue Cross Germany possesses vast leadership- and management skills. He has been an active member in the IBC Network Committee since 2008. His involvement in Blue Cross´ international work has allowed him to become familiar with structures and processes within the federation- and development work of International Blue Cross.

Ever since committed to the cause of Blue Cross, Reinhard Jahn wishes to further enhance the cooperation between the German Blue Cross and promote networking and mutual learning between all Blue Cross member organisations and the international Secretariat of IBC. In his inaugural speech the newly appointed president affirms: “IBC is an invitation for all of us to stay connected and share experiences, doubts and ask and answer questions together. It is also an invitation to addicts and families in the Blue Cross countries to seek help and realize that they are not alone in their battle against alcohol harm and addiction. I would like to serve IBC in a faith-based and holistic way and continue and even enhance the engagement of Blue Cross Germany with IBC. I am motivated to bring the international work of IBC forward, help finding and knitting relations and partnerships worldwide and enhance the profile of Blue Cross as a global movement with one voice.”

In addition to its new president, IBC is pleased to announce the election of Hans Eglin, Managing Director of regional Blue Cross Youth organisation from Switzerland as vice president of the Network Committee (board).

Other newly elected Network Committee members are: Ewa Duda, addiction therapist and promotion coordinator at Blue Cross Poland and Lars Thidemann Jensen, Vice Secretary-General in Blue Cross Denmark.

Other Network Committee members continuing their terms are Rolf Hartmann, President of Blue Cross Brazil; Ingalill Söderberg, journalist and board member at local and regional Swedish Blue Ribbon; Holger Lux, MD, Director Blue Cross Rehabilitation-Centres in Romania. Substitute members are Patrick Acheampong, General Secretary Blue Cross Ghana, Revocatus Nginila, Project Coordinator, Blue Cross Society of Tanzania.

07.02.2021

We all know that the children of today are the future of tomorrow. How we educate them, how we see and treat them and how we act around them, is going to shape the world of tomorrow. But not every child has the privilege to grow up in a healthy environment. In Southern Brazil alcohol abuse is a significant issue for a lot of parents. Children of alcoholics suffer from the consequences of being brought up upon alcohol. Facing social exclusion, developing mental illness or even becoming alcoholics themselves is a real threat to their future. The KIDS Support Groups in Brazil committed themselves to tackle this problem. KIDS Support Groups are a place where children, affected by their parents' substance abuse are welcomed and get orientation as a strategy of prevention and assistance to people in circumstances of social vulnerability and hazard.

The pandemic has challenged the work of the KIDS Support Groups a lot, since it wasn't possible anymore to regularly meet each other and organise events. Nevertheless the facilitators of the KIDS Support Groups came up with new and creative ways to still support the kids in the communities of Brazil. All 36 KIDS Support Groups found different ways to individually support children during this difficult time. Some groups managed to organise online meetings, others even had some face-to-face activities.

Besides connecting with the kids, it is really important to educate new facilitators and build new partnerships in order to start more KIDS Support Groups all over Brazil. We are really excited to announce new partnerships in the north east of Brazil, where now a new group has been started!

Another achievement of the last couple of months was the finalization of the first story of the comic, "the Azulinho series". In 2020 they started the elaboration of comics for prevention. These comics are used during activities and get distributed to kids. Working with comics is a way to prevent kids from drug and alcohol use in a child-friendly way.

If you want to know more about the KIDS Support Groups, you can read our reports on GlobalGiving: https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/kids-support-groups-in-brazil/