St John Ambulance and Rescue will train 140 volunteers in water rescue, acquire a new specialised rescue vehicle and run an educational campaign for more than 400 students through a project supported by a €20,000 grant, a statement said.
The project, funded through the VOPS scheme managed by the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector within the Ministry for Inclusion and Volunteering, is aimed at strengthening the organisation's water rescue capacity while promoting prevention and safety awareness among children.
The initiative was launched by Minister for Inclusion and Volunteering Julia Farrugia during an event hosted by St John Ambulance and Rescue, where a swimming pool rescue demonstration was also held.
Through the project, St John Ambulance and Rescue will finance educational material and a specialised Rapid Rescue Vehicle, which will be used both to support emergency responses and to help educate children about water safety.
Between July and September, the organisation will deliver a children's water safety awareness campaign titled Young Lives Safe Shores.
The campaign will include interactive sessions in schools, including summer schools, and youth centres, reaching more than 400 students.
The sessions will teach children how to behave near and in water, as well as how to react in emergency situations. An educational booklet will also be distributed so that children can take the information home and share it with their families.
The organisation said the sessions are intended to reduce the risk of accidents, including potentially fatal ones, by using practical, age-appropriate activities. Children will also be introduced to rescue equipment through the new vehicle, making the sessions more engaging and hands-on.
The Rapid Rescue Vehicle will be equipped with essential medical and rescue equipment, allowing St John Ambulance and Rescue to continue assisting the Civil Protection Department and health authorities during emergencies.
St John Ambulance and Rescue volunteers already receive regular water rescue training to maintain the skills needed to provide lifeguard services both on land and at sea. The organisation also trains volunteers and members of the public in land rescue, firefighting, high-angle rescue, first aid and other emergency-related disciplines.
Farrugia said the project builds on the government's work to strengthen prevention and education on water safety. She referred to the national swimming teaching campaign for children aged between three and five, saying that skills acquired from an early age can save lives.
She thanked St John Ambulance and Rescue and its volunteers for their work, saying the initiative would strengthen education and prevention within the community. The minister also said support through the VOPS scheme reflected the government's commitment to investing in the voluntary sector and community-based initiatives.
Chief Executive of the Malta Council for the Voluntary Sector Mauro Pace Parascandalo said it was encouraging to see projects financed through Council funds, including the VOPS scheme, being implemented.
Commissioner for Operations within St John Ambulance and Rescue Christopher Borg Cardona said schemes such as VOPS allow organisations like SJAR to extend their involvement in the community.
He said the new vehicle will enable the organisation to provide more water and sea-related services, complementing its existing emergency work on land. He also referred to the organisation's response during Storm Harry earlier this year, as well as three other major emergencies, many of which were related to firefighting.
