Tahiti-Ambulance-2
A photo of the ambulance paid for by funds donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the Fédération Polynésienne de Protection Civile in French Polynesia in 2024. © 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.
While Paris, France, was hosting the rest of the 2024 Summer Olympic games, surfing athletes competed in the massive waves found in Tahiti, French Polynesia, some 15,000 kilometers (roughly 9,300 miles) away.
Near that competition sat the official emergency vehicle, a brand-new ambulance purchased by funds donated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Tahiti-Ambulance-2024
Representatives from the Church and the Fédération Polynésienne de Protection Civile pose in front of the new ambulance purchased from a donation by the Church in 2024.© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The Church provided the funds to purchase the ambulance for the Fédération Polynésienne de Protection Civile (Polynesian Civil Protection Federation), which provides rescue, support and aid following natural disasters that often impact French Polynesia.
“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,” Sam Roscol, president of the Polynesian Civil Protection Federation.
Founded in 1985, the Polynesian Civil Protection Federation offers first-aid training for the public, aquatic training for professionals and instruction for trainers.
Over the past several years, the Church and the nonprofit organization have collaborated on a variety of projects, including providing underwater rescue equipment, mountain rescue equipment and first-aid training.
Last year, the federation’s ambulance —an indispensable tool for helping and rescuing people in danger — could no longer function, and the organization had to reduce its operations until they could afford to buy a new one.
“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,” Roscol said.
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.