In October 2015, Africa Fire Mission expanded our work into the country of Zambia. Our 4-person vision team spent the week learning about the needs of the fire and disaster services in Zambia, meeting with various mission organizations, governmental agencies and individuals and training firefighters and school staff.
This summer, we packed a 40' shipping container full of medical supplies, fire equipment and food and shipped it to Lusaka, Zambia. During our trip, we were able to deliver a container and it supplies to the beneficiaries. The container arrived fully intact and early 40 fire departments were outfitted with personal protective equipment for their firefighters. Two medical clinics received much needed supplies to upgrade the services they offer to their communities and much needed food was supplied to the Kids Alive Orphanages thanks to our partners at IDES and FAME.
Throughout the week, our team spent 3.5 days training fire departments trainers from all across Zambia. Over 135 firefighters from every department in the country received training in several topics areas including fire prevention and Community Health Evangelism (CHE). Though training and personal conversations, we had the opportunity to share our faith. We also had the opportunity to spend several days at the Kids Alive center in Lusaka. We learned about how they work with children in the slums to educate them and share Jesus in the communities. Nancy had the opportunity to train Kids Alive staff using CHE and encourage them as they work with the children at their two centers.
The mission wrapped up with a grand ceremony, provided by our partners in the Zambian Fire Services, at the Lusaka International Airport to formally recognize the donation of the training and equipment. Representatives from our mission partners, the US Embassy and dozens of Zambian governmental agencies, including the Minster of Housing and Local Government attended. The ceremony included speeches, prayers and thanksgiving and some amazing traditional African storytelling and dance.
Additional training and supplies are needed to continue empowering the Zambians to continue developing programs that meet the needs of the communities and children they serve. AFM is actively planning for our return trip to Zambia. We are very pleased with the active stance taken by our new partners in Zambia to make the next steps in our expansion a reality and an ongoing partnership. actively planning for our return trip to Zambia. We are very pleased with the active stance taken by our new partners in Zambia to make the next steps in our expansion a reality and an ongoing partnership.
