PHOT CAPTION: Alfonso Reisang Tolomeo, Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee- Search and Rescue Unit of the Maltese Association of the SMOM
A crowdfunding campaign on Zaar aims to fund a dedicated Search and Rescue (SAR) vehicle for the Search and Rescue Unit of the Maltese Association of the Order of Malta, which would double as a mobile operations hub.
When someone goes missing or an emergency unfolds in Malta, the Unit answers the call. Its volunteers, supported by trained search dogs, deploy day or night to find missing persons – from hikers to vulnerable adults – often working alongside the police and civil protection teams.
At present, the Unit’s deployments are slowed by fragmented transport. Malta’s highly trained volunteer search and rescue teams are losing minutes – and potentially lives – because their search dogs, gear and technical tools travel in separate vehicles. Medical and rescue equipment is not always immediately accessible, while on-site coordination is limited. In search and rescue, where the first hours are usually the most decisive, those minutes matter.
“We are a volunteer team that turns out when families’ worst fears unfold, so time is everything,” says Simon, the Unit Leader. “A dedicated response vehicle would let us deploy faster and work as one unit on site. Our volunteers give their time and expertise – with your support, we can give them the tools they need. Together, we save lives.”
Trained search dogs can detect human scent in conditions where other methods often fall short – in collapsed buildings, dense vegetation or after dark. With their handlers, they cover ground that would otherwise require much larger teams.
A dedicated vehicle would serve as the backbone of a modern search and rescue operation, making it possible to get responders – and their life-saving canines and equipment – on the scene faster.
The crowdfunding campaign aims to raise €43,750 before it closes on 16 July, to fund the Unit’s first fully equipped response vehicle, designed for rapid deployment in real-world scenarios.
The proposed vehicle would carry ventilated transport crates for the search dogs, technical gear for urban, rural and rubble searches, GPS and drone integration, an AED (defibrillator) for life-saving intervention and fully stocked trauma kits for both human and canine first aid.
An onboard monitor would run live drone feeds and search mapping, while dedicated storage for tracking and scent equipment would allow volunteers to grab what they need within seconds of arriving on scene.
The fitted-out vehicle would also allow the Unit to operate as a self-sufficient on-site hub, with communication systems for coordination with authorities while on callouts across the Maltese islands.
While every donation makes a difference, backers will receive tokens of appreciation based on the amount donated, such as an official Search & Rescue team badge or t-shirt.
Tiered sponsorship packages are also available for businesses, who will see their logo featured on the vehicle and receive an official team apparel pack, among other memorabilia, while placing their brand behind a team deployed in some of Malta’s most demanding situations.
To donate or learn more, visit the website before the campaign closes on 16 July.
