NEWS VISION
October 24, 2002 issue

CANADIAN AND PERUVIAN FIREFIGHTERS JOIN FORCES WITH WORLD VISION

By Yadira Pacheco and Phil Maher - Communications

WV Canada supported fire fighters have worked with the Ventanilla Fire Department to provide fire training and assist a poor World Vision community, 1 hour outside Lima, the capital city.

Under the leadership of Captain Alan Hills, from the Fire and Emergency Services of Mississauga, Canadian fire fighters shared their skills through practical workshops in the Ventanilla Fire Station. The project was started after a fire destroyed 250 homes in an impoverished area of Peroe. Canadian Fire fighters volunteered to train the local fire department in a project where World Vision assists more than 5000 children.

After a warm welcome by Peruvian fire fighters, the group of five Canadians donated fire fighting gear and medical supplies to the small Ventanilla fire station. The visit and the training workshops for the Ventanilla fire fighters were a great contribution to World Vision's efforts in Peroe, given that in the Ventanilla area, homes are mostly constructed from wood and bamboo.

It was particularly exciting for the Canadian fire fighters to visit their sponsored children in Ventanilla ADP. "It is almost a dream come true," said Captain Hills who was moved to tears at his meeting with Melva Yalta, his sponsored girl (on the right). He presented her with a typical Dalmatian (fire fighting dog) toy and thanked World Vision for the work done in Ventanilla.

The reunion received much attention from the community. Monday morning the Canadian Ambassador for Peru offered a small reception to the fireman, which was covered by the Peruvian media. The ambassador expressed his respect to World Vision and to the Mississauga fire fighters for their contribution to the country.

Training session in Ventanilla.

For more information about the Firefighters' Mission of Mercy to Peru, click here:

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