A Heart Given to People»: Archivists Prepare a Documentary Exhibition for the 105th Anniversary of the Belarusian Red Cross Society

The Red Cross, the country’s oldest humanitarian organization, first appeared on Belarusian lands in the 1870s. However, its official founding date is considered to be September 6, 1921—the day its charter was adopted. The year 2026 marks a significant jubilee for the organization.

A documentary exhibition dedicated to this milestone has opened at the Zonal State Archive in Maladzyechna. The archivists focus on the organization’s mission and the evolution of its activists and volunteers in the Maladzyechna region.

The documents reveal that during the Great Patriotic War, when the Maladzyechna area found itself at the epicenter of tragic events, Red Cross activists went underground or joined partisan units; they secretly procured medical supplies, assisted prisoners of war, and rescued individuals from the ghetto. Following the liberation of the district in 1944, the Red Cross took on the monumental task of searching for those missing in action, caring for orphans, and providing aid to people with disabilities.

Between 1944 and 1960 — a period when the city served as a regional center—archival records document the activities of the Maladzyechna Regional Organization of the Belarusian Red Cross, which coordinated efforts across a vast territory. By the mid-1950s, the scale of the regional organization was remarkable: it operated over 12,000 local branches, uniting nearly 43,000 people. In effect, one in every ten residents of the region was involved in this humanitarian cause. During these years, the Red Cross also became a vital instrument for the training of mid-level medical personnel.

Following the abolition of the Molodechno Region in 1960, the organization continued its operations at the district level. Documents reveal that, throughout the 1960s–1980s, it became an integral part of the healthcare system, providing health education in the most remote villages through local branches based at medical and midwifery stations (feldsher-midwife posts). The exhibition also highlights how local Red Cross volunteers took veterans under their care, and how, in 1986, the organization’s mercy service mobilized resources to provide targeted assistance to those affected by the Chernobyl disaster. During the challenging 1990s, the Molodechno District Committee of the Belarusian Red Cross Society (BRCS) served as a key partner in the distribution of international aid to refugees.

It is fitting that the first visitors to the archival exhibition were activists from the current Molodechno District organization of the BRCS. They showed a keen interest in these historical records, recognizing in them the legacy of their predecessors’ efforts. They also expressed their gratitude to the archivists for their meticulous work in organizing and preserving this documentary heritage.

«The exhibition at the Molodechno archive is a history of humanity, capturing the work of those who extended a helping hand—both in difficult times and in days of peace. Compassion has no expiration date, and helping one’s neighbor remains the core value that unites our members», remarked Olga Malyarevich, Chairperson of the Molodechno District Organization of the Belarusian Red Cross Society.

Today, the Molodechno District organization of the BRCS stands as an important entity within civil society. Under the guidance of the district committee and volunteers, the organization carries out large-scale and vital projects, such as «A Nanny Instead of Mom», a blood donation drive for Volunteer Day, the «Health Day with the Red Cross» campaign, and many other significant initiatives.

1–3. During the tour