Training and Equipping of the 1st Mountain Rescue Squad
VOLUNTEER MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAMS
(A project of the public organization “Resilient Country” / Dimakayun Yerkir)
When disaster strikes — an earthquake, wildfire, flood, avalanche, or a missing person case — the first hours are critical.
Yet in these moments, local communities often lack equipment, stable communication, and trained responders.
We believe this can be changed.
And we are already building a systemic solution.
Our Mission
To establish regional volunteer mountain rescue teams composed of trained local residents capable of acting independently and effectively during the initial hours of an emergency.
Each team receives training, essential equipment, and insurance coverage, becoming a resilient and permanent element of regional safety infrastructure.
This is not a one-time humanitarian action.
It is an investment in resilience infrastructure — where national safety is built from the ground up, through prepared, organized, and empowered communities across Armenia.
Phase One
During the first phase, we are forming a pilot volunteer mountain rescue team consisting of 6 trained local specialists, ready to respond when emergencies occur.
The team is designed as a mobile, autonomous, and insured unit, equipped with transportation, reconnaissance tools, communication systems, personal protective gear, and the skills required to operate in mountainous terrain.
Project Investment Overview
The total investment required for the first phase of the project is
12,830,000 AMD
These resources are directed toward building a fully operational rescue team and are structured across the following investment areas:
🔹 Mobility and Reconnaissance — 7,100,000 AMD
Investments in transportation and unmanned aerial systems enable rapid deployment, situational assessment, and effective operations in remote and hard-to-reach areas.
🔹 Equipment and Gear — 2,910,000 AMD
Investments in specialized clothing, mountaineering equipment, shelters, medical kits, and communication tools ensure safety, autonomy, and operational effectiveness.
🔹 Human Safety and Capacity Development — 2,820,000 AMD
Investments in training and insurance protect responders and strengthen professional readiness.
83% of investments are directed toward practical readiness and mobility,
17% toward human safety and capacity development.
Every dram is an investment in preparedness — activated precisely when other systems may be delayed or unavailable.
Why This Matters
Armenia is a mountainous country where the risk of natural and man-made disasters is constant.
Trained volunteer rescuers represent the first line of societal resilience and a reliable complement to state emergency services.
This is a model where help is always nearby.
Where volunteers become rescuers.
And where communities evolve into strong, self-reliant pillars of preparedness.
We do not wait for someone else to save us.
We build those who save.