Kenya Stairclimb 2023

Kenya Stairclimb 2023

On September 16, 2023, firefighters gathered for a day of remembrance of fallen firefighters and a day of camaraderie and awareness of the fire service in Kenya.

Heels on Mountains collaborated with Africa Fire Mission for this year’s Annual Firefighter Stairclimb event in Kenya, which had a had a total of 65 participants! We are grateful to all the participants and sponsors of this event.

Heels on Mountains has continuously supported firefighters in Kenya since 2019, supporting 4 stairclimb events for firefighters at the Kenya International Conference Center . Thank you to everyone that participated: Mombasa County, Kenya Airports Authority, ICT Fire and Rescue, West Pokot County. We are grateful to individual Firefighters and EMT’s as well as supporters of First Responders.

Asanti sana. You helped Kenya be on the map as the only African country that commemorated the Twin Tower bombings with a stair climb activity.

Check out photos from the Kenya Stairclimb event here:

Experience the Magic of Africa with a Safari to South Africa!

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

Available at the Silent Auction at the Chama - See details below to bid. Silent Auction will close at 9:30PM on September 25, 2021

We have 2 opportunities to bid - live at the Chama and online on our facebook Chama event page!

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.

• 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)

• 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.

• Value: US$5950

• ·This donation is valid for the period of THREE years from your auction date (until 9/25/2024) 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

Bidding is open:  Opening bid:  $2500; minimum amount to raise:  $100;

Bid now: on Facebook >

Bid in person at the Chama: Get Tickets >

Don’t have facebook or can’t attend the Chama? Bid on the Safari, email tech@africafiremission.org or text (513) 620-4236 with your bid.   AFM will post updates and send email/text updates to offline bidders. 

 Donated by Trevor Shaw, Owner Zulu Nyala 

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

The New Normal: Virtual Fire Training Symposium

Errol Sianga, ICT Fire and Rescue, Kenya

14 December 2020

The year 2020 began on an extremely high gear and as in previous years, I was looking forward to having a great and wonderful experience in the world of firefighting.  Suddenly the world was hit by the strange virus known as the deadly coronavirus (COVID-19) that affected and infected many people and countries making the whole world come to a standstill because of the rapid spread and highly contagious virus.

Traveling was impossible and social gatherings were also not happening.  Everyone was restricted and advised to STAY AT HOME, wash their hands with soap and water, sanitize as well and not forget to put on their mask, so that became the NEW NORMAL.

Life took a different turn in which I had to adjust my way of life. The coronavirus was spreading like a wildland fire.  I was trying to be safe and at the same time many countries were trying to figure out what type of a virus it is and the rush to come up with a vaccine started.

At this point, Africa Fire Mission began weekly VIRTUAL classes that were being held each Wednesday.  The weekly virtual classes were very informative and very refreshing. As the weekly classes were ongoing that is when the major announcement was made for the AFM VIRTUAL FIRE TRAINING SYMPOSIUM that was going to be held in the month of NOVEMBER from 16th-20th.  I was so excited and very anxious and looking forward to attending my first ever virtual symposium ever.   So, we were urged to register for the class through GOOGLE CLASSROOM.

The virtual symposium was very exciting with great and very knowledgeable instructors and wonderful reading materials. The sessions were very engaging and not forgetting the HOMEWORK part that was a good indicator to gauge how well I understood the subject and the content being delivered.

The awesome experience I gained from the symposium was a unique one and a memorable one in my firefighting career.  It was also a great networking platform. I have been sharing with my friends and colleagues the materials that I got from the symposium and the notes that I gathered from the symposium. I am looking forward to next year and more virtual training from Africa Fire Mission.

Project HAND UP

By Josh Hamilton, AFM Communications Director

I’m excited to share that Africa Fire Mission is partnering with Project HAND UP to teach more children about fire safety!

In 2019, our curriculum reached over 3,000 community members. Through this partnership, we estimate that our curriculum will reach 1 million children and mothers through a single TV show! Project HAND UP (PHU) is developing a new kids TV show for children 5-12 years old based on an existing set of characters called Dr. Pamoja and Bali. Based in Kenya, Project HAND UP will provide families with informative and engaging educational content pertaining to fire safety.

With the consultation on local educational directives from AFM and the technical knowledge and strong track record for children’s education from PHU, we propose to create five episodes on fire safety geared for the Kenyan context. These episodes will both be part of the TV show and also serve as stand-alone videos that AFM can use for their own education programs in perpetuity.

Together, we can teach children how to save lives--one episode at a time.

Thank you your part in the movement to provide fire safety for children!

Will you consider a donation as a part of AFM’s 2020 Chama to help us reach our $20,000 goal to fund this project?

Experience the Magic of Africa!

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

Silent Auction at the Chama - See details below to bid. Silent Auction for the Safari will close at 10/11/2019 at 7PM

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 THREE years from your auction date (until 10/11/2023) 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 during our virtual Chama on Facebook at: Facebook

You can also bid by e-mailing nancy@africafiremission.org or texting (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 - and beginning 10/5 you can bid online the event page.

 Donated by Trevor Shaw, Owner Zulu Nyala 

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

AFM receives 2019 APNET Community Engagement Award.

The African Professionals Network (APNET) honored Africa Fire Mission with the 2019 APNET Community Engagement Award.

Dr Prince Ellis, president of the Cincinnati based network said - “Your remarkable contributions and community investment in expanding access to critical resources, and developing sustainable capacity of fire departments across Africa, enhance the image and welfare of people of African descent. As a result, the APNET 2019 Selection Committee and Leadership Team believe that your commitment deserves recognition.”

The African Professionals Network celebrated this achievement at the 2019 APNET Symposium on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at Union Hall, 1311 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202. The theme for this year was Unlocking Africa’s Potential to the Community. Please visit https://symposium.africanprofessionalsnetwork.org/ for more information.

Thank you to Board Treasurer, Mike Burnham and his wife Laurie for accepting the award for AFM a the event.

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.