ICRC Museum Visit

On 22 June 2015 students enrolled in The History and Art of Switzerland course (Global Citizenship Program) visited the International Museum of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (ICRC). They had previously explored Geneva’s past at the Cathedral of St. Peter, Archaeological Site, Maison Tavel, Reformation Museum and Art History Museum.

Dr. Maryvelma Smith O'Neil, who was teaching the classs, explained, "At the end of our academic voyage of discovery, we saw the intellectual links between Jean Calvin, Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Henri Dunant, each of whom contributed to make Geneva a symbol of dialogue, peace and democracy. Within the museum we viewed and interacted with thematic exhibitions that demonstrated how the organization that has worked since its foundation by Dunant in 1863 to prevent, relieve and attend to human suffering, to uphold international humanitarian law and to defend human dignity. The greatest challenges of our day are unabated violence, a sea of refugees and demonstrable climate change.

During the course we took an unforgettable journey - from the remains of a Celtic chieftain found deep beneath the foundation of medieval St. Peter’s to the beating heart of humanity today at the ICRC Museum."