Henry Dunant

Hello. My name is Henry Dunant. I was born a long time ago, on May 8th, 1828, in a beautiful city called Geneva in Switzerland. Growing up, my family taught me that it was very important to be kind and to help people who needed it. I would often go with them to visit people who were poor or sick, and we would do our best to bring them food and comfort. Learning to care for others was the most important lesson of my childhood.

When I grew up, I became a businessman. In the year 1859, one of my business trips took me to a place in Italy called Solferino. There, I saw something that made my heart ache. A huge battle had just been fought, and thousands of soldiers were hurt and lying on the ground. There were not nearly enough doctors to help them all. It didn't matter what uniform they wore or which side they were on; they were all people who were suffering. I knew I had to do something. I gathered local townspeople, and together we brought water and bandages to the soldiers. We cared for everyone we could, reminding each other that all people are brothers and sisters.

I could never forget what I saw at Solferino. I wanted the whole world to know about it, so in 1862, I wrote a book called 'A Memory of Solferino'. In my book, I shared a big idea. What if every country had groups of volunteers who were trained to help wounded soldiers in wartime? These helpers would be neutral, meaning they would help anyone from any side. People all over Europe read my book and loved the idea. So, in 1863, I and four other men started a committee that would later become the Red Cross. We chose a symbol so everyone would recognize our helpers: a red cross on a white background. This symbol would mean 'we are here to help'.

My idea led to countries agreeing to rules for war, called the Geneva Conventions, to protect helpers and the wounded. Many years later, in 1901, I was given a very special honor for my work: the very first Nobel Peace Prize. It showed that the world believed in kindness and helping one another. I lived to be 82 years old. Today, the Red Cross and the Red Crescent can be found all over the world, helping people during wars, natural disasters, and other emergencies. I am so happy that one idea, which started from a feeling of wanting to help, grew into a global family of people who dedicate their lives to caring for others.