The great development of the International movement of Red Cross and Red Crescent, broadening of their function and taking ever newer tasks, show for themselves that the world needs them and it will need them for a long time, for as long as there is human suffering. There are many international organizations in the world, thousands, but only a few have such long history.

Voluntary work is a huge mobilizing power of potential strength and can, if it is well organized and rightly directed, contribute to the well-being of people. Besides this, the Movement is often accepted where others who do humanitarian work are not, because it sticks to its principles.

This is why it is importatnt to be aquainted with its history.