Founded in 1985, the FPPC - or Fédération Polynésienne de Protection Civile - has become an essential partner in the rescue, support and aid of populations, particularly during natural disasters that regularly affect French Polynesia.
The organization also provides first aid training for the public, aquatic training for professionals and training of trainers.
Over the past several years, the collaboration with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown steadily, especially with provisions of underwater rescue equipment, mountain rescue equipment and first-aid training.
Last year, the Federation's ambulance could no longer function, and the organization had insufficient funds to purchase a new vehicle.
Sam Roscol, President of the FPPC, had to reduce their interventions until sufficient funds could be raised to acquire this indispensable tool for helping and rescuing people in danger.
In collaboration with FPPC, the Church of Jesus Christ stepped in and donated the funds to purchase the much-needed ambulance.
DOWNLOADSam Roscol declared: “We are so grateful for this ambulance, but especially for the opportunity to work with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to save lives. The strong relationships we have with the Church at a local level enable us to help each other and carry out joint operations.
We are indeed delighted to have launched a pilot project to train people not only in first aid, but also in woodcutting (lumberjack trade), so that they can effectively use the equipment in the Church's emergency containers.”
More than 60 people have been trained and they will be able to reinforce the emergency plan in the Church's congregations where this pilot project of training by the FPPC has begun.
The ambulance was the official emergency vehicle stationed at the 2024 Olympic Surfing competition in Tahiti.
