by Caleb McDairmant, American Red Cross

Ananya Uddanti is on a mission. As one of 13 Red Cross Youth Field Ambassadors in the nation and the president of the Red Cross Club at her school in Little Rock, Arkansas, she wants to motivate other young people to a life of service.

“Being a rural region, we needed to find a way to engage youth,” Uddanti said. “We’re working on setting up an open house night for any schools and any kids to come in and see what Red Cross Clubs can do.”

Red Cross Clubs enable middle school, high school and college students to serve their communities alongside their friends, receiving leadership development opportunities and training to deliver the lifesaving services of the Red Cross.

“With Red Cross Clubs, I think it’s really important to have like-minded peers and young minds go out and interact with people who have different life experiences and learn from them, while also making a meaningful impact on their lives,” Uddanti said.

Uddanti evolved from a virtual volunteer of the Missing Maps project, planning risk reduction and disaster response activities that save lives. She is involved with the Sound the Alarm campaign to install free smoke alarms in homes. She also participated in the Prepare with Pedro program for grades K-12 that teaches students to be prepared and take action during a home fire or other hazard.

Uddanti engages her club members by reflecting on the Red Cross mission statement to alleviate human suffering in the face of disaster. For many club members, their life goals align with helping others. The various initiatives offer diverse approaches to this goal, and volunteering with the Red Cross prepares them for a life dedicated to helping others.

“Doing what I can do to help those around me and help the communities that have aided in my personal growth and development is something that has always been important to me,” Uddanti said. “Volunteerism is not just going out into the community and being hands-on, there’s other ways you can contribute to the community and really leverage your own interests and talents.”

Now, it’s your turn to step up and make a difference. Visit RedCross.org/youth to learn more about how you can join an existing club or start a new one in your school. Your efforts can build lifesaving skills and foster a culture of resilience in your community. Your story of change starts today.