+ Malawi Fire Training Trip - March 31 - April 14, 2025

Mission Costs Include: Airfare, Lodging (double occupancy), Transportation, Mission Supplies/Expenses, Partial Meal Stipend, Trip Insurance/Medical Evacuation, 2 AFM Team Shirts (or alternative for returning team members)

Additional Costs: Passport, immunizations, COVID testing (if required), souvenirs, additional food, additional travel, single occupancy lodging (additional $700), safari (additional $1100)

March 31 - April 14, 2025

Base Cost: $4500

Important Dates:

• APPLCATION DEADLINE EXTENDED: November 15, 2024 - Application and $300 deposit due
• Novmeber 30, 2024 - $2000 due (short time frame due to change in application deadline)
• February 4, 2025 - final trip payment due (including add on costs for lodging and safari costs. Any returning team member discounts will be applied to this payment)
• 4 Team Meetings (Tuesday’s 7:30P Eastern; 12/17/2024, 1/21/2025, 2/18/2025, 3/18/2025) on Zoom - link will be emailed.
• Debriefing team meeting - Tuesday, April 22nd, 2025 7:30P Eastern

Tenative Schedule: (dates may adjust on front or back end of trip based on number of instructors)

• March 31: Leave US for Malawi
• April 1: Arrive in Malawi - orientation/planning
• April 2-9: Training across Malawi
• April 10: Team debriefing (tentative at Lake Malawi)
• April 11: depart for home or depart for Safari*
• April 12: arrive home
• Option - 3 day 2 night Safari to Mvuu Lodge, Liwonde National Park (includes transportation, lodging, food & park fees). Arrive in US on April 15 *additional cost, $1100 due with final payment

+ Payments and Crowfunding

Once your application is approved you can begin fundraising for your trip using AFM's crowdfunding page for this trip. This is also where you will go to make trip payments.

Make a payment or start crowdfunding >

+ Team Member Expectations

• Africa Fire Mission expects professional conduct on this mission. You are representing Africa Fire Mission, our partner organizations and the Fire Service at all times on your trip.
• All trip participants are required to follow the trip schedule and participate in all group functions.
• Permission to deviate from scheduled activities must be obtained from the trip leader.  
• Be flexible, changes in the schedule will occur and information may not be available until the last minute.
• Separation from the group is not allowed without prior approval by the team leader.
• Always let the team leader know your whereabouts.
• Trip participants are expected to respect the culture and traditions of our hosts. Be willing to give and take and maintain the spirit of unity.
• Extend politeness and courtesy to those with whom we come in contact (missionaries, nationals, team leaders, team members).
• You will be expected to acclimate to the host culture. This may mean eating food you are unfamiliar with or participating in foreign customs. Embrace the opportunities to learn about a new culture - complaining about or comparing the differences from U.S. culture is not beneficial to the experience.
• It is important that your dress in a neat, clean, modest and appropriate for the activities of the day. Your appearance is important for your safety and our reputation. Follow your team leaders guide regarding any uniform, personal protective equipment and the team dress code expectations.
• Giving gifts of any kind to nationals without consulting AFM staff or team leader is not permitted. The preferred method of giving is through structured programs by AFM and our partners.
• The exchange of personal information and social media connections with nationals is not permitted without team leader approval. This can create an expectation of ongoing support that may be detrimental to AFM’s ongoing mission.
• Team members are expected to be transparent with financial matters and support raising.
  • Funds given toward this mission will be used for the costs of this trip.
  • If you are unable to go or funds are received by AFM in access of the trip costs, all funds will be used at the discretion of Africa Fire Mission.
  • Payments for the trip need to be made on time. Failure to do so may result in not being able to participate in the trip or additional costs for the trip. Late payments often result in additional fees to AFM in the event of late payments, team members will be responsible for additional costs.

+ Finance and Fundraising Policy

Purpose: Team Members which are a part of AFM's Trips are encouraged to raise funds for their trips. As AFM is a 501c3 we operate under the following policy for individuals raising financial support for their mission trip:

Policy

1. AFM works hard to keep the costs of short-term mission trips reasonable.
2. Team Members are encouraged to raise support for their trips.
3. If payment is made via check– the check should be made out to Africa Fire Mission, not the team member. Team members are responsible to communicate this to the donor. For tax deduction purposes the donor gifts must be made out to AFM and there should not be a gift designation on the check itself but rather on an attachment to the check
4. We suggest that you ask donors to send checks, made out to AFM, directly to you so you can track donations intended for your trip; then you can send the check to AFM. If team members believe that donations may be or have been sent directly to AFM, the team member is responsible for notifying AFM of the anticipated donation and the name of the donor.
5. Use of AFM's Crowdfunding site will allow donors to make tax deductible donations and will allow for lower fees to AFM, donors and team members. Use of AFM’s crowdfunding site also simplifies tracking of donations. However, if the person or project is not specified funds may be designated for the general fund of AFM.
6. Use of other Crowdfunding is acceptable, but not encouraged. Funds received through other crowdfunding sources may not be tax deductible for the donor and the team member will incur any fees associated with the crowdfunding site.
7. Team members are encouraged to host personal fundraisers such as dinners or events to raise awareness about the work AFM is doing and the participants role in training in Africa.
8. Once donations are received by AFM - including trip fees from team members, the donations are not refundable. AFM does obtain trip insurance that will allow you to recover your airfare and some other costs in the case of an emergency.
9. Team members are responsible for communicating to potential donors that if something should happen that does not allow them to travel with the team, donations will be used for other AFM goals and projects.
10. There will be 3 deadlines for payment of trip expenses 1) application fee and deposit 2) first payment (generally half of mission costs) and 3) second payment (generally the second half of the total mission cost). Missing a trip deadline could result in your not being able to travel with the team.

+ Immunizations

AFM strives to provide accurate information regarding immunizations required and recommended for Mission Trips. However, AFM is not an expert in immunizations and it is the responsibility of all team members to review and obtain needed and suggested immunizations with a medical professional prior to travel.

• Participants should be up to date on all routine immunizations such as, but not limited to:

• Measles/Mumps/Rubella
• Diphtheria/Pertussis/Tetanus
• Polio
• Menactra Meningococcal Meningitis

• Participants should consult with a medical professional and review Center for Disease Control recommendations for the area(s) you will be traveling (http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list)

• Depending on the area of the world and the type of work you will be doing you may consider the following immunizations along with others recommended by your medical professional:

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Typhoid – oral preferred/recommended
• Yellow Fever - for some areas of Africa, the Yellow Fever immunization is required for reentry into the United States
• Malaria - oral; Note: Chloroquine is NOT an effective antimalarial drug in many countries.
• COVID-19 - We will be following US State Department guidelines for the countries where we will be traveling. We will also be following the destination country's guidelines and restrictions and will provide up to date information to the team in team meetings.
• Colera - this vaccine can be difficult to obtain in the United States.

• It is recommended that you obtain and bring your “Yellow Card,” which will list your immunizations. It is your responsibility to know the immunization requirements for the country you will be traveling to.

• Health Departments sometimes have lower cost immunizations.

• Travel Clinics such as PassPort Health can be very helpful in simplifying the process and providing expert recommendations for travel.

+ VISA

As of 2024, Malawi does not require a visa to enter the coutry.