Joe Hansen - Volunteer of the Year Award 2019

At Africa Fire Mission’s Chama, on October 12, 2019, we were pleased to present Joe Hansen with our volunteer of the year award.  Joe's began volunteering with AFM in 2014 when he was still a recruit in the Great Oaks Fire Academy.  Since then Joe has been part of the instructor cadre on two trips, (Kenya 2015 and Ukraine 2019) and he has taken on the role of gear donations coordinator.   Joe has spent hundreds of hours collecting, sorting and packing firefighting equipment for shipment to under resourced firefighters across the globe.  Thank you Joe for all you do for Africa Fire Mission!

Joe is a full time firefighter for the City of Springdale Fire Department.

Have you dreamt of taking an African Safari? Now’s your chance!

Silent Auction Item: South African Safari for 2 People -  valued at US $5,950

Silent Auction at the Chama - See details below to pre-bid and to set up to bid in absentia on October 12th. Silent Auction for the Safari will close at 10/12/2019 at 9:30PM

Safari Details:

• 6 days and 6 nights - accommodation for two people in a standard room at Zulu Nyala Heritage Safari Lodge/Tented Camp.  These facilities are situated in the heart of Zululand and St. Lucia/Sodwana Bay Marine reserve/Lubombo corridor - one of the richest wildlife conservation regions in Africa.

• Location:  KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

• Includes: Full board, which is three delicious meals per day, prepared by the finest international chefs - with an African flavour of course.

• Two Game Viewing activities per day, guided by your own professional game rangers in open game viewing vehicles, in Zulu Nyala game reserve. (The filming location of "I dreamed of Africa" starring Kim Basinger)

• Value: US$5950

• ·This donation is valid for the period of two years from your auction date (until 10/12/2021) and bookings can be made for any period in the year.  

• Does not include airfare, transfers, side trips, personal beverages, or phone calls. 

• Additional Information about the Safari location and accommodations:  http://zulunyala.co.za.

• If you would like more specific information about this package, please contact  tech@africafiremission.org

Bidding

Pre-bidding is open:  Opening bid:  $2500; minimum amount to raise:  $100; to prebid on the Safari, email tech@africafiremission.org or text (513) 620-4236 with your bid.   AFM will post updates online and also send email/text updates to bidders. 

Bid at the Chama - get your tickets here - TICKETS

Can’t be there for the Chama to bid in person?   You can bid at tech@africafiremission.org or text (513) 620-4236   When you let us know you want to bid at the event, set a max for your bid and we will “assign a bidder” on your behalf at the Chama – if you’re max has been outbid at the event we will send you a text to offer you to go above your limit. 

We will post bidding updates on the Chama’s event page on Facebook.

 Donated by Trevor Shaw, Owner Zulu Nyala 

Special thanks to Art Howe for arranging this donation!

**The Zulu Nyala auction package is non-transferable and non-refundable, may not be given to any other person or organization.  

Kherson, Ukraine August 2019

This video give a great summary of AFM's first training trip in Kherson, Ukraine. Note the use of local, available resources to support the training. When equipment is not available to do the job - we work to get creative to support skill advancement with locally available tools and materials.

Winneba, Ghana July 2019

In collaboration with Charlottesville, Virginia Sister Cities program and Fire Department, AFM was able to donate personal protective equipment to Winneba, Ghana’s fire department. AFM is looking for opportunities to further our work in Ghana in 2020 in collaboration with the fire service and Medical Ambassador’s International.

José - Fire Safety Advocate - May 2019

In May 2019, Africa Fire Mission was able to hire José to work as a Fire Safety Advocate in Kenya.   José is a burn survivor and a firefighter He is be working with community groups training the community members in Community Health Evangelism - Fire Safety, helping start local volunteer fire brigades and helping us coordinate trainings for fire service in Kenya.  He is ministering to the community by showing him God’s love and through practical fire safety and response.  Please keep Jose in your prayers as he works to train community members and to develop volunteer fire departments in Kenya.   He recently shared this success with us: 

On July 13, I was headed to train staff at MOHI on how to use fire extinguishers, I had my bunker gear with me as I use it to show them how firefighters gear up. I learned that there was a fire nearby.  I diverted from my training and went to the fire scene. On scene, I unpacked my bunker gear by the footpath just near the fire engine. I could hear people say in Swahili "this is our fireman". I prepared so fast.

I then went to the fire commander and saluted and said “I'm at your service” for him to assign me to duty. He asked me to do a safety check and see if fire was at the back of the houses. I checked and reported back that all was well. He told me to go give backup to the nozzle man working on the ground. When I got to him, he was extremely exhausted. I took over and asked him to rest as he watched my back.  I needed him to watch my back because as firefighters in Kenya, we often get rocks thrown at us because community members believe that we do not come prepared (they think our trucks aren’t filled with water when we arrive because they run out of water (10,000 liters) so quickly).  A second fire engine was called and it acted like a water tanker back up. This was a relief because during my community fire prevention and response sessions, I explain to them how firefighters and fire engines operate and why water gets depleted so quickly. 

After training nearly 3,000 community members in 3 months’ time, the firefighters are now beginning to be accepted in the community.  My dream is to one day see no fire engine with riot cages on its window panes.

After putting out the fire, more community members saw me on scene and were giving me fist bumps as they identified with Africa Fire Mission – their fireman, being on the ground. It was truly humbling. Our little light has started shining.   I’m already following up to see how we can train members in this local area for early emergency response.

May all AFM’s partners know that their help is truly bearing fruit and touching lives. We shall not relent on this battle of fire.

Kiev & Kherson Ukraine May 2019

In November 2018, AFM was approached by Tavreski Christian Institute and the Kherson, Ukraine, State Emergency Services Unit (Kherson Fire Department), to assist in Kherson, Ukraine by expanding our program there. While skeptical at first of expanding outside of Africa, we seriously considered the request and after very fruitful meetings and discussions it was determined that the goals, objectives and needs in Ukraine were in line with AFM’s mission. In April 2019, AFM donated and shipped 350 sets of firefighter protective clothing, training materials and a set of Jaws of Life to Kherson. And in May 2019, Executive Director, Dave Moore visited Ukraine to better understand the need of the fire service.

Nairobi and Kiambu Kenya April 2019

In April 2019 AFM had the privilege of participating in the first conference of the newly formed Chief Fire Officer’s Association of Kenya. Over 25 counties were represented, including about 3 counties with newly formed fire departments.

FREETOWN SIERRA LEONE FEBRUARY 2019

In partnership with Bloomington, Indiana Fire Department Africa Fire Mission was able to send gloves, flashlights and a few other safety items as 4 Bloomington Firefighters worked in Freetown with their firefighters. We look forward to other opportunities to partner in Sierra Leone in the future!

NAIROBI, MURANGA & KILIFI, KENYA DECEMBER 2018

AFM instructors provided training for the 4th year in Kenya. Our team of 13 US firefighters and 10 CHE workers from Missions of Hope International provided a week of training in Muranga, Kenya. Training topics included Community Fire Prevention, Tactical Firefighting, Leadership and Emergency Vehicle Operations. Partners from Polish Aid (PCPM) and Kenya Council of Emergency Medical Technicians provided First Aid and EMS training.

It was exciting to see the advancements of the fire service including more volunteer firefighters. The fire services is rapidly expanding their connections with communities through integration of community fire prevention and basic first aid especially with children and motorcycle drivers. Reports of over 500,000 individuals trained in community fire prevention since November 2017!

Team members were also able to visit fire stations in Nairobi, Kenya; Mariakani, Kenya as well as the firefighters at JKIA (Nairobi's international airport).

Arsal, Béqaa, Lebanon City, Lebanon October 2018

Mutual Aid - An agreement among emergency responders to lend assistance across jurisdictional boundaries due to emergency needs. 

Winter is fast approaching the mountains of Lebanon where many Syrian refugee camps and informal settlements are located. Fires are a constant threat in these settlements and even more so in the winter time as the temperatures plummet and the communities struggle for warmth to survive the winter. 

Fires in these camps are disastrous and often catastrophic to both life and the few possessions the community members have. Fire can quickly overwhelm the capabilities of the local fire departments and community services leaving an already vulnerable population even more vulnerable.

Three weeks ago, my friends and partners at Polish Aid reached out for mutual aid to complete fire safety trainings and to install firefighting equipment in dozens of settlements to help protect these areas from the ravages of fire before the harsh winter sets in. 

Today, I find myself sitting in a small cafe, reflecting on my first 5 days serving here in Lebanon alongside my Polish, Lebanese and Syrian friends. One part of my wonders how in just three weeks time I ended up on an impromptu, last minute trip to Lebanon and I just shake my head and smile. Another part of me wonders what on earth God has up his sleeve as new opportunities to serve others across the world seem to be opening up more and more.

I am intrigued to see what the next two weeks have in store as this group of firefighters from Poland, America and Lebanon works together, in mutual aid, to serve the informal settlements, the surrounding Lebanese communities and the Lebanese fire service.

-Dave

NAIROBI, KIAMBU, MURANGA & KILIFI, KENYA - JUNE/JULY 2018

In June and July, teams from Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, Illinois and Generations Christian Church, Trinity Florida provided Fire Prevention Training at Missions of Hope International. Over 3500 children and their teachers received life-saving information about preventing and responding to fires. There had been a fire at one of the Missions of Hope schools early in 2018 and the timing of this training was critical in the Mathare Valley as well as in Turkana, Kenya. Where there is no fire brigade.

Nancy Moore, director of programs, met with fire service leadership in Kilifi, Nairobi, Muranga and Kiambu Counties to continue planning for our 2018 fire symposium and to see the progress that is occurring. Kilifi and Nairobi Counties have boreholes under construction at their fire stations; Kiambu county has started a new fire station in Kiambaa – allowing them better access to this growing community “you have to start somewhere” – the fire station is a shack. Nairobi is now able to respond to more fires thanks to a partnership with Belgium Aid which has provided new fire trucks.

Mariakani Fire Brigade in Kilifi County serves about 300,000 people. Since November 2017 they have trained over 60,000 children and adults in fire safety. They are using community development principles to do this by using locally available resources to serve their community in the best way possible. They are proud of their work. The Mariakani Fire Brigade has also started 3 Jr Firefighter programs, one for children that live near the fire station and come to the fire station for programs and 2 programs at local schools. These children have successfully suppressed one small fire that could have resulted in a much larger fire without the knowledge of these children. Mariakani has also started Friends of Firefighters Fellowship - a local church that meets at the fire station

NAIROBI, KENYA - OCTOBER 2017 FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

What would you do if you see a fire? Yell: FIRE FIRE FIRE! What would you do if your clothes catch fire? STOP DROP and ROLL! What would you do if your house is on fire? GET LOW and GET OUT!

Those are the words to our new fire prevention song that was introduced in Kenya during this mission. In the U.S. nearly everyone knows the number for the fire department, how to exit their home safely in a fire and many more fire safety and prevention techniques.

Imagine not knowing how to call the fire department when you needed them, or not knowing what to do if your clothes caught fire. How helpless would you feel? We’ve set out to change that helpless feeling into knowledge across Africa.

A team of 22 people from fire departments, churches and communities all across the U.S. came together in Nairobi to share the message of fire safety and God's love to the children and staff at the Missions of Hope International’s Kosovo School. During this amazing week, the AFM team taught the kids fire safety, shared the Bible and played games with the students, created songs and dances with the students and showed God’s love to the kids and staff.

Now 40 teachers, 1100 school kids, their families and friends in the Mathare Valley of Kenya know what to do and who to call when fires break out and how to safely evacuate their school in case of fire.

ZOMBA, LILONGWE & BLANTYRE, MALAWI MAY 2017

Malawi is one of most beautiful places in the world and also one of the poorest. Landlocked in south-central Africa it is a heavily agrarian country that is prone to food insecurity (famine) and long-term power outages.

Nancy and I visited Malawi for 3 weeks in May at the invitation of Namikango Mission to explore how Africa Fire Mission could serve Malawi and partner with Namikango as a way to help their mission connect to the community. Missionaries Ryan and Justine had previously served at Missions of Hope in Kenya before moving to serve in Malawi 3 years ago. They had seen the impact AFM and MOHI had on the Mathare Valley and hoped to do the same in Malawi.

While in Malawi, we met with fire service leaders across the country to find ways AFM could minister to them. We learned that in Malawi, a country roughly the size of Pennsylvania, there are only FOUR fire departments and roughly 200 firefighters. Pennsylvania along has over 1800 fire departments. The country of Malawi has never bought any of their own fire trucks or fire equipment. They have relied on aid from the UK and Japan but they wish to change this. They wish to provide the services their communities needs with the right kind of equipment. The leaders are smart and know what it take to move forward but they just need some support and encouragement which Africa Fire Mission will be providing. The fire service leaders were impressed by the CHE curriculum that AFM has developed and were thrilled that we were able to train them and provide them copies of the training so that they could immediately go out in the communities and share the messages of both fire safety and God's love.

Moving forward, as a first step, we have invited the fire service from Malawi to attend the 2nd All Zambia Fire Academy in Lusaka this September. Zambia is a neighboring country and they Malawians a striving to emulate the successes that have occurred in the fire services across Zambia. We are looking forward to connecting our partners in Zambia and Malawi together as we all work to collaborate and provide strong and effective fire prevention and response services that will keep people safe!

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA - SEPTEMBER 2017

In September, Brad Banz, Hank Clemmensen and Dave and Nancy Moore traveled to Lusaka Zambia for two weeks to teach at the 2nd All Zambia Fire Academy. Nearly 200 firefighters from all across the country traveled to Lusaka to network and learn about community fire prevention, commanding fire and emergency scenes, how to prevent cancer and how to deal with the psychological trauma and PTSD that is so prevalent in the fire service around the world.

During the academy we had the honor of meeting the first female fire chief Zambia has ever had and having her lead one of the main tabletop simulation exercise on the last day of the training.

Our team was able to see the 42 newly purchased fire engines that were in the process of being distributed to the countries fire brigades. These new fire engines will nearly double the firefighting capacity of the fire brigades in Zambia. We are excited to see the progress Zambia is making in upgrading the fire services and we look forward to partnering with the country and the Campaign for a Fire Free Zambia in 2018 as we implement community fire prevention training in Zambia and in 2019 as we host the 3rd All Zambia Fire Academy and expand that academy to also include firefighters from the country of Malawi as well.

NAIROBI & MACHAKOS, KENYA NOVEMBER 2016

Our 2016 All Kenya Fire Academy trained over 230 Kenyan and Ugandan Firefighters in Machakos County, Kenya. We offered training in Fire Service Leadership, Community Fire Prevention & Response and Emergency Medical Services (including CPR & basic first aid).

During the academy we rolled out our brand new fire prevention curriculum to the attendees and by the end of the week hundreds of community members in Machakos and Nairobi were trained in fire prevention and community fire response techniques.

Our team of 11 instructors were joined by two Polish Fire Trainers and a video crew of the Discovery Channel who recorded a day of the academy for inclusion in an upcoming Discovery Channel Documentary about the impact of global warming on disaster response. The week concluded with a formal graduation ceremony. Local officials spoke and the students were given blessings from both local pastor and Imam. All the students received certificates of accomplishment and a gift from Africa Fire Mission and the Fellowship of Christian Firefighters.

Additionally, we trained nearly 50 CHE trainers and Community members in the Mathare Valley in our Community Health Evangelism Fire Prevention Curriculum Missions of Hope International is facilitating a community fire prevention team with CHE community members that will continue to train others in the community.