Through a series of exercises, including fire fighting simulations and relay-races, 100 volunteers, aged 14 to 18, demonstrated what they learned during five days of fire fighting training. Thanks to this USAID supported training, these young people, representing 10 municipalities in Vojvodina, now have the skills necessary to help safeguard their communities when fires break out.

Youth from Bačka Topola, Indjija, Kanjiža, Kovačica, Kula, Novi Kneževac, Sombor, Subotica, Žitište and Zrenjanin, divided in 10 teams, have demonstrated the skills needed in emergency situations by handling firefighting equipment and overcoming various obstacles. This competition marked the end of five days theoretical and practical training program, through which they gained necessary knowledge and skills needed to protect their municipalities in case of emergency.

“We are especially proud to support the camp for young volunteer firefighters. Its mission to build the capacity of Serbia to ensure the security of citizens and to provide skills development to support the economic security of youth parallels the mission and goals of our program,“ stated Michael Pillsbury, Director of USAID’s Preparedness Planning and Economic Security Program, and added that the issues of physical safety and economic stability are approached in three specific ways: “the long standing culture of volunteerism in Vojvodina is revived; education and skills development are promoted; and development of fire prevention system in Serbia is improved.”

Serbia needs to add 4,000 firefighters to the current force of 3,000 to fully meet the country’s needs. With a total of 7,000 firefighters, Serbia would begin to pull even with the firefighting capacity of other countries in the Balkans and would begin to come close to the standards of most European Union countries - one firefighter per 1,000 citizens.

The experience has shown that when disasters happen, the most operative and mobile forces are actually those at the level of local communities – members of rescue services and volunteers.

USAID’s Preparedness, Planning and Economic Security program represents the partnership between state, local government, local and international organizations with the goal to provide safety and economic stability in the country.

„Future Vojvodina Firefighters - Kovačica 2009” brought together representatives of municipalities, associations of volunteer firefighters, members of Red Cross and representatives of the Ministry of Interior. More than 70 municipalities throughout Serbia are already involved in Preparedness Planning and Economic Security program, which has supported the organization of this camp with USD 42,000 grant.