Volunteer Rescue team “Filios Zeus”
A voluntary rescue team used LEADER support to obtain equipment to enable the volunteers to increase the range of incidents they can respond to, as well as to raise awareness among the local population about volunteering.
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The ‘Filios Zeus’ Team of Volunteers is an Association of civil protection volunteers based in Archanes, on the island of Crete. In cases of emergency, state agencies contact the team which is ready to offer its volunteers and equipment promptly, and to be of assistance as and when requested. Support from the LEADER programme enabled the team of volunteers to acquire equipment that would allow them to increase the range of incidents where they can intervene, such as in natural disasters prevention and management, as well as to better organise public information campaigns.
In just the few months following delivery of the equipment, the Association has been requested by state agencies to provide assistance in the following cases:
- patrol missions (50) for forest protection purposes during the summer season;
- locating people missing (ten incidents) in remote, difficult to access mountainous areas, in cooperation with the Natural Disasters Special Rescue Force (EMAK);
- providing health services such as first aid (90 interventions);
- helping vulnerable social groups that are affected with mobility restrictions during lockdown (50 incidents); and
- organising (40) community actions (collecting basic goods for people in vulnerable social groups, hosting blood donation sessions, etc.).
Furthermore, the Team has gone on to inform and raise awareness with teenagers of issues relevant to volunteering and responding to natural disasters.
