SANTA CRUZ, BOLIVIA MISSION ANNOUNCED

Volunteers Depart in December for EMS Training Mission

(17 July 2010)  In December, 2010, volunteers from Global Mission Readiness will descend on the beautiful country of Bolivia to begin the foundation of training for our brother and sister firefighters of the UUBR (Urban Unit of Firefighters and Rescue) from the city of Santa Cruz.  The week-long class will include EMS first responder training and auto extrication skills utilizing tools and equipment.  This is the first of what could be many missions to the area and will form the foundation for which future classes will be based off of.

The UUBR is a group of volunteer bomberos and rescue personnel that formed just four years ago but have already become widely reknown in the region for their skills and expertise.  They are made up of roughly 30 men and women trained in firefighting, EMS, Hazmat and technical rescue including confined space, rope & water.  They operate in one section of the vast city of over 1.5 million people despite inadequate funding and support.

When making the decision to aid the UUBR of Santa Cruz, Bolivia, GMR Founder Don Davis knew instantly that this was a special organization.  "After a joint training mission with several of their personnel last February in Caraz, Peru, I realized just how dedicated they were to their trades and to their mission," stated Davis.  "This was a unique team of selfless professionals that traveled almost two thousand miles (3000 kilometers) from their homes so that they could learn new skills to teach their colleagues.  This group sacrificed so much for wanting to make a difference in their own city - all without pay.  I feel as though I owe it to them to help out any way I can."

This will be the first mission by GMR to the region.  A planned site visit will take place in September in preparation for the upcoming training.   As with all of our missions, they cannot take place without the generous funding of our supporters.  Please help us make this and subsequent missions possible by donating here.  We accept gifts of cash, equipment, supplies and gifts for our fundraisers - all of which are tax-deductible.  Thank you for helping this wonderful group.  Please click on the logo below to view a short video on their organization.  To visit their website, click here.