Green S Welfare Force Wing has been saving lives for over a decade

Donating blood is a global necessity. About 118.4 million blood donations are collected worldwide from 169 countries each year. No matter where in the world, there is no substitute. Dera Sacha Sauda is a welfare organisation that knows this. With its roots in India and 70,000 volunteer members around the world, all are dedicated to helping others through good deeds.

A New Zealand chapter of the socio-religious group has quietly been donating blood at New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) for over ten years. Simar Preet, the Team Red coordinator for the Shah Satnam Ji Green Welfare Force Wing based in Auckland, shares her experiences.

“I first joined our organisation nearly 20 years ago in north India,” says Simar, who has called New Zealand home since 2009. “The Green S Welfare Force Wing was established after a devastating earthquake in Gurajat. The need for volunteers was evident, so our members stepped up to help.

“From disaster relief to over one hundred welfare activities such as environmental clean ups, tree planting, and donating blood, our mission is dedicated selfless service to humanity.” 

The organisation has been donating blood in New Zealand since 2004, and thanks to Simar’s coordination efforts, regular group donations have taken place around the country for the last ten years, helped in part by the NZBS Team Red group donation program that was introduced in 2018.

Since establishing a presence in New Zealand, the Green S Welfare Force Wing has donated enough blood to save more than 1,000 lives, and since joining Team Red two years ago has donated whole blood and plasma over 450 times. The group is ranked an impressive 35^th in the country out of 500 teams for total number of donations.

“We currently have around 70 blood and plasma donors in New Zealand, based in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Wellington, and Christchurch.” Simar says.

“Many of our members have come to New Zealand from India. We have a database of people and connect with one another through group donations.

“I grew up watching my parents attending blood donation camps in Dera Sacha Sauda, Haryana, northern India.  They were both members of Shah Satnam Ji Green S Welfare, and they would take part in all sorts of volunteer activities during my childhood. The organisation head ... has always motivated volunteers to donate blood or plasma to those in need throughout India, and this motivated me to follow in my parent’s footsteps and also join. Part of my work now is to remind our members why they should join our donation efforts and help with other humanitarian tasks.

“During alert level 4 lockdown, we noticed on Facebook, New Zealand Blood Service was asking for more eligible donors to make appointments. We knew people may be reluctant to donate because of the pandemic, so put a call out to our organisation and had a very positive response. We felt it was a great opportunity to help others in need.   

“We also send reminders to our members to download the New Zealand Blood Service (NZBS) mobile app, as well as updates on when to donate. Depending on other eligibility this is roughly once every three months for whole blood, and every two weeks for plasma donors.”

The group can be identified by the distinctive Khaki tracksuits they wear when donating blood together. The uniform is the very same design as those worn by the very first welfare volunteers in Gurajat, meant to symbolise their hard work and determination to serve the community.

“Some of our members have family who have needed donated blood, and have seen the very real impact of blood donation. We’re on a mission for humanity, and we donate blood as a group to give us the greatest opportunity to save lives of those who need it.”

To find out more about how you can donate blood or plasma, click here, or call 0800 GIVE BLOOD