Tension, excitement and nervous chattering. 760 girls and boys are waiting for someone they know about, but have never seen. He keeps them waiting for a while, maybe too long in someone’s opinion, but he does not let them down. Screaming, shouting, clapping and jumping is what meets one of Kenya’s most famous artists, Vinnie Banton, when he enters the stage at Othaya Girls secondary school in Nyeri. The atmosphere is high and the students who participate in the Red Cross youth rally this day are dancing and singing along to the artists’ performance.

It is a quite normal Saturday in Nyeri, but for the Red Cross youth from 13 schools in the district it is special. Some have travelled far and others have even paid their own transport to be able to participate.

With the help and funds from the Norwegian youth delegates, the volunteers and staff in Nyeri have worked hard to make this day a success for the students. A lot of planning needs to be done before such an event, many letters have been sent and phone-calls been made and after that it has just been to cross fingers and hope for the best.

Branch coordinator in Nyeri, Rose Nyingi, is in charge of opening the event and introducing the Red Cross team who will be there to assist throughout the day. The participants are also welcomed by the principal, in addition to motivating and inspiring words from the National Youth Officer, Moses Kesekwa. After the introductions it is time for the students to bush up on their knowledge on the Red Cross movement, the history and structure of the Kenya Red Cross Society and the 4-part Youth Programme.

The students are not passive participants. All the schools are attending with a program, either poems, skits or songs. There is nothing to say on the creativity and the audience joins in enthusiastically. Different subjects are addressed based on the Red Cross, such as the principles and HIV/Aids. The session is well connected by Nyeri Red Cross volunteers, who also help keep the spirit and interest of the audience up with introductions of the participants, energizers and humoristic comments. One of the delegates, Lene Steimler, has also prepared a quiz to test the youths’ concentration skills. Every school participates with one student and they are divided into 3 teams. The students are being tested in their knowledge about the organisation, the Kenya Red Cross Society and HIV/Aids. The winners receive chocolates, buttons and candy from the Norwegian Red Cross as prices.

The highlight of the event is when the youth find out that the surprise of the day will be a performance by the Kenyan artist Vinnie Banton. He has also volunteered this day and performs songs from his new album. The students are not afraid to move to the rhythm and they take part until the end. It is a perfect finish to a successful day for the 760 youth, a day that has strengthen the youths’ motivation, inspiration and joy of being a volunteer in the Red Cross for time to come.