Project Acronym: FARED
Project Description:
This project brings together communities in eastern Latvia and southern Estonia to strengthen first aid preparedness and emergency response capacity. It does so through joint training activities, fostering cooperation, and promoting the exchange of knowledge and experience.
By engaging young people and volunteers involved in first aid, community support, and emergency preparedness, the project aims to build sustainable cross-border cooperation networks that enhance the safety and resilience of border communities.
Project Implementation Period: April 2026 – February 2027
Project Objective:
The objective of the project is to strengthen cooperation between between youth and rescue volunteers involved in emergency response in the eastern regions of Latvia and Southern Estonia, thereby developing local communities’ capacity to respond effectively to crisis situations. The project promotes the creation of sustainable cooperation and coordination mechanisms among volunteer groups, involving both young people and adult volunteers. The project aims to strengthen communities in several ways: to improve cooperation between volunteers and communities by implementing training programs, events, and competitions; to foster mutual connections and communication in border regions, particularly by involving children in first aid camps; as well as raising public awareness of emergency preparedness and the importance of mutual aid.
As a result, the project contributes to the development of safer, more cohesive, and more resilient communities in the cross-border region. It aims to promote public awareness of emergency preparedness and the ability to help one another in the most difficult moments-emergencies that affect individuals and communities.
Expected Results:
Long-term cooperation between Latvian and Estonian volunteers and professionals involved in emergency response will be strengthened, while improving their skills in first aid and psychological first aid.
The project will actively involve at least 40 participants involved in emergency response, 94 youth volunteers, and approximately 100 participants in joint events.
A sustainable cooperation system will be established, including annual cross-border first aid competitions for students and a memorandum of cooperation, ensuring the continuation of long-term cooperation and coordination among partners even after the project concludes.
Public awareness of how to act in emergency situations and the community’s readiness to help one another will increase.
Planned Activities:
Training and simulation camps will be organized for specialists and volunteers involved in emergency response in Estonia and Latvia to strengthen cooperation, exchange experiences, and improve joint action in crisis situations.
An international camp will be organized for young volunteers from Latvia and Estonia to develop first aid skills, strengthen cooperation, and jointly prepare first aid competitions for students.
Annual Estonia–Latvia first aid competitions for students will be organized, developing common organizational and evaluation principles, as well as a cooperation model for their sustainable implementation in the future.
Funding:
The project is co-financed by the European Union under the Interreg VI-A Latvia–Estonia program.
Project Partners:
Estonian Red Cross
Project Manager:
Indra Ringa – indra.ringa@redcross.lv
Project Coordinator:
Kristīne Brante-Jarmakoviča – kristine.brante-jarmakovica@redcross.lv