Tucson Samaritans
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Training for Samaritan Trips

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After attending a Samaritan Training (held monthly) , a new volunteer can sign up to go to the desert on a Samaritan trip. There are several things a volunteer needs to know before they can safely go on our trips. These include:
  • background and history of migration and humanitarian aid groups
  • safely travelling in the desert, including use of GPS devices, maps, and SPOT satellite communicators
  • desert first aid
  • protocols for interacting with the Border Patrol and law enforcement
Prior to COVID-19 Samaritans has done monthly trainings, but because of the need for social distancing we have suspended this program. Now, we are resuming the training, but in virtual form, using Zoom software, like many other organizations are doing.

Our first training session will be at 1:30 p.m. on July 5th, 2020, which will have two presentations, one giving you the historical context of the migration crisis, and the other describing responses by groups like No More Deaths and Samaritans over the last 20 years. There will be two more sessions the following Sundays. Each presentation will be about a half hour followed by discussion and questions and answers.

To register for the training, please email Sam.Southside@gmail.com.

We are experimenting with this virtual teaching process, Our current plan is to have recordings of the training sessions available on our website, and to provide the ability to do training off line, as well as through Zoom (details to be worked out).




Samaritan Training Videos

January 5th, 2020 (Session 1):
Lupe Castillo gives historical and cultural background of the Southwest (lost the first 10 minutes, sorry...)
John Fife talks about the humanitarian aid movement, including Samaritans, No More Deaths, and Humane Borders
January 12, 2020 Session 2
First talk: 
Margaret Cowan discusses the legal aspects of migration and our interaction with law enforcement.

​Second Talk: Dorothy Chao talks about first aid and health concerns for migrants and for ourselves in the desert.
January 19th: Session 3 Talk 1
Gail Kocourek talks about how to go out on a trip: the cars, the shed, the equipment
Talk 2
Mike Kreche talks about maps, navigation and electronic tools: GPS and SPOT: how to get where you want to go, how to get back, and how to call for help.