Volunteers across the border

The project aims to increase the capacity for prevention, management and overcoming of natural disasters by supplying specialised equipment for natural disasters. Also, aims to increase public awareness among young people as well as visibility of the project and the achieved results.

With the implementation of the project 2 (two) press conferences will be held. Publications in regional, national media, municipal websites and social platforms will be done. Information brochures presenting measures for flood prevention, the role of the population etc., will be prepared and distributed. Through this activity awareness and visibility of the project and the achieved results will be increased.

Within the project, LP will supply а special vehicle for fire interventions and complicated snow conditions. The specialized equipment provided will result in limiting damage from fires and complicated snow conditions and protecting the population and the environment in the cross-border region. It will provide investments to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change and 13337 people (from Berovo) benefiting from forest fire protection. PP2 will supply a special vehicle for flood and fire interventions. The specialized equipment provided will result in the reduction of damage from fires and floods and the protection of the population and the environment in the cross-border region. It will provide investments to adapt and mitigate the effects of climate change and 36,351 people (from Sandanski, Strumyani and Kresna) who benefit from floods and forest fire protection.

In the framework of the project training for “Increasing the capacity of voluntary formations (VF) to prevent, manage and overcome natural disasters” will be implemented.  Within 80 academic hours the volunteers from both countries will pass through a specialized training course in the field of Fire Extinguishing and Rescue Activities. With this activity 20 volunteers 10 from the Blagoevgrad region (the municipalities of Strumyani, Sandanski and Kresna) and 10 from Berovo,will be trained.

Organization of a “Joint training for young people (students) from local communities and raising their awareness on natural disasters” will be implemented.  This activity aims to build a solid foundation in the behavior of young people, future citizens, about how society can be adequately prepared to avoid being vulnerable to catastrophic phenomena. Joint training will focus on the practical training of young people up to 18 years of age in the CBA in the field of procedures and rules to be followed in the event of natural and anthropological disasters and community involvement in dealing with natural disasters. They will conduct an open demonstration - fire fighting, earthquake, first aid in floods, etc. disasters and accidents. 30 representatives of local communities will be organized. Enhanced community awareness of measures to address natural disasters such as floods and fires. Enhancing community involvement in dealing with natural disasters to act as a whole. Building a culture that recognizes that tackling natural disasters is a socio-economic issue.

Throughout the implementation of the project activities, both partners will be involved and will be part of the processes of training and information about the benefits of prevention and mitigation of consequences of natural and man-caused disasters.

This project aims to show that protecting the environment is one of the main priorities of the region, the usage of the new equipment for firefighting, complicated snow conditions and flood interventions will limit the damage from natural disasters, protect the population and the environment in the CB region as well as Increased capacity of volunteers and youth from the CB region to deal with natural disasters.Sustainable cross-border partnership in the field of prevention and tackling natural disasters is the main benefit of this project.