BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS
DATE:
03/08/2009
Meredith Fire Explorer to attend emergency rescue parley in Belarus
By ERIN PLUMMER
Trevor Giroux is already training for the fire and rescue needs of Meredith as a fire explorer, but in September his experience will go international as he joins other youths for a trip to Belarus to take part in an international tournament for emergency rescues.
Giroux, of Meredith, is a 14-year-old freshman at Inter-Lakes High School. After an application process he has been selected to participate in the International Rally of Young Rescuers hosted annually by the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Republic of Belarus in September
The program is taking place through Partners for Peace, a program through the University of New Hampshire that encourages diplomatic relations with countries in the former Soviet Union and works to deal with emergency response issues in those countries. The program is directed by David Tille and co-directed by former Ambassador George Bruno.
The program has worked on relationships with Belarus, Lithuania, the Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, and other nations or republics in the former Soviet Union. Delegates from the United States have been invited to Belarus and representatives from Belarus have come to New Hampshire for discussions on emergency management.
The International Rally of Young Rescuers is a tournament in emergency response and management with seven students ages 14 through 17 traveling to the Belarusian capital of Minsk with three chaperones. The rally mostly consists of basic fire and rescue activities, such as first response and first aid.
Teams come to the tournament from several different countries, mostly from Eastern Europe. The American team is entirely comprised of students from New Hampshire through the UNH program.
Tille said most fire departments in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union tend to be national agencies similar to a federal emergency management agency.
This is the second year students from New Hampshire have traveled to Belarus for the tournament.
"Last year we were just trying to get together a team," Tille said. "This year we're working with local government programs, students who have a background with first responders."
The American team will consist of seven students. So far students from Manchester, New London, Concord, and Meredith have been selected and organizers are still going though the application process for the other four.
Partners for Peace volunteer and Meredith resident Jeanie Forrester already knows Tille and heard of the program.
"I wanted to have somebody from Meredith running," Forrester said. Forrester contacted former Fire Chief Chuck Palm and "I asked if he knew of anyone who might be interested. He mentioned Trevor was in the explorer program. He was highly recommended."
Trevor Giroux is a member of the Meredith Fire Department's Explorer program, which is affiliated with the Boy Scouts. The program is open to students age 14 through 18 to give them an experience with first response and the fire service.
"A lot if my family has been in the fire department in the past," he said, saying he has had several generations of family members who have been in the fire department and the fire auxiliary. "I thought it was really interesting, it seemed like a good thing to do. I recently quit the Boy Scouts and I thought I should do something else."
As an Explorer, Giroux gets to take part in training exercises, learn about first response and gear, and help the department in other ways. He said he wants to someday join the fire service with special interest in fighting forest fires due to his interest in the outdoors.
Additionally Trevor participates in nordic skiing, cross-country running, and golf in addition to spending time with friends, camping, sailing and reading. He attends Calvary Bible Church in Meredith and is part of the church's youth group.
Forrester called Trevor's mother Tammy Giroux and asked if he might be interested in applying.
"I thought it was a great opportunity," Tammy Giroux said. "I was a little hesitant, I knew it's not something that comes along every day."
Tammy Giroux then discussed the possibility with Trevor.
"I was surprised," Trevor Giroux said. "I never heard of Belarus before. I was a little nervous."
"I think from the start he's been positive about it," said his father Bob Giroux.
Trevor Giroux's application went through a vetting process. He also had to get a passport, which was also examined as part of the process.
The family learned nearly two weeks ago that Trevor had been accepted for the program.
"Definitely being with the young explorer program weighed in as well as Trevor's recommendations," Tille said. "The background with the young explorer program isn't a requisite. If someone has a particular interest in first response, being involved with the program show's he's already learned some if the basic skill sets. It's a nice reward I think for participants of the young explorer program.
"Obviously it's a good opportunity for a young gentleman, in this case, to have this opportunity to experience these different cultures," said Meredith Fire Chief Ken Jones.
Trevor Giroux will travel to Belarus on September 15 and will stay for a week in the country, turning 15 that week.
Students will board a plane from Logan Airport for the overnight flight with a layover in Frankfurt, Germany.
Tille said last year, students arrived in Minsk and had a day of rest before the tournament, including a trip to the Circus of Minsk and a nice dinner.
Students will be staying at a resort-style facility near Lake Naroch and rooming with one another. All food and accommodations will be paid for by the Belarusian government.
"It's quite an exciting opportunity for the kids," Tille said. "They'll be dorming with other kinds from other countries."
The host of the event is Enver Bariev, the Minister for Emergency Situations in Belarus.
When they are not taking part in the tournament, students will be able to do other activities such as visit local landmarks. Tille said last year students visited the national library, the Minsk Fire station, museums, saw various World War II exhibits, and traveled to a rural village.
"I'm really interested in the history of the area," Trevor Giroux said. "I'm really excited for it, mostly the history, mostly World War II and what happened there."
The primary language of Belarus is Russian, through Tille said most of the Belarusian students know English as a second language and there will be translators available. Trevor Giroux said he purchased a Russian dictionary and is learning some of the basics of the language. Tille also said students will receive papers with basic Russian phrases.
This will also be the second time he has been on a plane, the first time being a trip to Florida.
Students are required to have passports and visas to enter Belarus. Tille said Belarus does not have normalized relations with the United States and it is rare for Americans to travel to the country, though members of the government treat the students teams "like royalty."
In the meantime, Forrester will be helping to raise funds for Trevor's flight expenses as well as money for his team uniforms. Tille said the flight to Belarus can cost between $1,100 and $1,600.
The family will only have to take care of passport expenses and spending money.
"It's an exciting project and I really wanted someone from Meredith to go," Forrester said, saying she has successfully fundraised in the past, especially with the Greater Meredith Program. "It's a great opportunity and it's a very worthwhile project."
Trevor will also take part in training exercises in August through September to prepare for the tournament. He has also spoken with one of the students who took part last year and received information on what to expect.
"I just think it's going to be a great cultural experience," Tammy Giroux said. "I just think all of it's going to be a great experience or any 14 or 15-year-old."
"I think it's great," Bob Giroux said. "When I was his age the Russians were the 'big, bad Russians.' Getting the youth together to say 'we're all the same,' I think that's what he's going to get out of it."
Forrester is actively soliciting sponsors for Trevor's international educational experience in Belarus. Anyone interested in donating funds for Trevor's trip should contact Jeanie Forrester at jlf@worldpath.net or by calling 380-2523.
Source:
http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090803/GJNEWS02/708039878/-1/CITNEWS
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