The St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross recently held a three-day Leadership Development Camp at the YMCA's Trout Lodge near Potosi, MO. 17 young adults were selected based on the number of community service hours donated over the previous year and a topical essay with their individual application. In this group, there is only one Asian chaperone named Amy Hwang who recently graduated from Washington University in biology. Currently, she is in medical school in Philadelphia. She enjoys working with young adult students and has volunteered for many years, thus earning her a nickname of "Red Cross Youth Ambassador".

Amy Hwang was born in Philadelphia and moved to St. Louis four years ago. She joined the Red Cross during her college career. Her involvement includes helping middle and high school students in the area start individual YouthCorps groups. YouthCorps trains individuals in the programs and services of the American Red Cross during after-school group sessions held once a week. The training focuses on health and safety, disaster preparedness, and international services. In her four years of service, the number of students she has met totals over 8,700. She says, "In talking with the students, I help them build leadership and organization skills, and also encourage them to recruit other students for their YouthCorps group to do community service".

The American Red Cross Leadership Development Camp is designed to boost the self-esteem of young volunteers, while emphasizing the importance of leadership and teamwork. To encourage cooperation, Amy Hwang guided the volunteers through various challenges from canoeing and navigating obstacle courses to a high ropes course and an alpine swing. The goal of each activity was to prepare the volunteers to become future leaders.

American Red Cross sponsorship of camp activities covered all costs for the young volunteers. Financing was provided through tax credits from the Youth Opportunity Program and private funding. "It is so important for these young volunteers to get to know one another while learning new skills in leadership and team support," said Deane Adam, Director of AmeriCorps/Youth Services for the St. Louis Area Chapter. "During the challenge activities, it was exciting to see each of them accept their unique responsibility in order for the group to succeed."

To start a YouthCorps group in an area school, students need a school sponsor, a classroom where the group can meet, and at least six middle school or high school students interested in peer teaching and service projects. For more information about the Red Cross YouthCorps program and other youth services provided by the St. Louis Area Chapter, please call Deane at 314.516.2717, or log on to the Chapter's website at www.redcrossstl.org.

Founded in 1917, the American Red cross St. Louis Area Chapter provides emergency and preparedness assistance more than 382,000 times each year. The Red Cross depends on the efforts of 11,300 volunteers and 140 staff to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, adult daytime professional care, services to military personnel, assistance to homeless families, and support for blood services. During the flood of '93 and the 9/11 tragedy, the St. Louis Chinese American community donated many funds to the St. Louis Red Cross in order to show their support and care.

【時報訊】

聖路易紅十字會日前在YMCA Trout Lodge舉辦了一個為期三天二夜的青少年領導訓練營，17位來自大聖路易地區，經過甄選之優秀青少年得以完成這項訓練，在訓練營中唯一的一位亞裔輔導員，同時也是紅十字會資深義工，就是今年甫自華盛頓大學生物系畢業，目前在費城就讀醫學院、有紅十字會青少年大使稱譽之Amy Hwang。

韓裔Amy Hwang在費城出生，四年前來到聖路易就讀華盛頓大學並參加紅十字會擔任義工，協助輔導各高、初中同學在校內成立紅十字會社團，接受包括健康安全維護、災難防範等紅十字會有關訓練。在這四年期間，Amy Hwang曾赴各高、初中巡迴推廣紅十字會義工服務及成立社團，和同學們接觸人次高達八千七百位，Amy Hwang表示，經由高、初中生的會面，能夠瞭解到他們的需要，更能夠在成立紅十字會社團的過程中，訓練同學們的領導和組織能力，進而鼓勵社員們參加紅十字會之青少年團(YouthCorps)、強化義工服務和社區服務。

在青少年領導訓練營中，Amy Hwang帶領團員經由各種不同的活動和游戲，建立自信心、責任感和團隊精神，使之成為未來的領袖，紅十字會贊助支持這項訓練營之所有費用。紅十字青少年團主任Deane Adam說，「在訓練營中，這些青少年義工彼此認識共同開發領導潛能和才能。」在各種充滿挑戰的活動裡，「他們接受訓練、擔當責任，讓團隊精神帶領他們走向成功」。

祇要有六個以上的學生並且有學校的支持和教室開會使用，就可以在高中或初中裡成立紅十字會青少年社團，紅十字會十分鼓勵各學校和學生主動成立這個社團，紅十字會也會協助同學獲得學校的支持。大聖路易地區很多高、初中已有紅十字會社團的組織。如果沒有的話，歡迎該校同學或家長致電紅十字會青少年團主任Deane Adam，電話：14-516-2717，開始成立這個十分具有意義之社區公益社團。

聖路易紅十字會成立於1917年，提供本地區各項緊急服務和濟助。每年提供之服務超過38萬次。聖路易紅十字會目前有140位工作人員和一萬一千三百位義工，提供各項社區服務，包括急難求助，緊急心肺救訓練(CPR)。各項安全維護訓練，成人專業照顧，軍眷家庭照顧，無家可歸家庭協助等，和大家耳熟能詳的捐血活動。聖路易華人社區在2001年911事件後和1993年聖路易大水災時都曾捐款予紅十字會，表達華人社區的關懷與愛心。