An empowered and self-sustaining communities are able to reduce occurrence of disasters and actively participate in environmental conservation and community development activities with minimal chances for strife and conflicts.
Africa’s common hazards, according to Red Cross Society of Kenya, include: HIV/AIDS, Floods, Disease Outbreaks (Cholera and Malaria), Food Insecurity, Tribal Clashes, Road Traffic Accidents, Fire Outbreaks and Collapsing/Failing Structures (NOC, 2006).
Kenya for example is currently having a population density of 29.9 million, of which 11.4 million live in urban centres. It has 2.4% average population growth per annum (2001). 53% of the population is aged between 15-65 years old. 44% of the population are below 15 years old. The male:female ratio is 52:48. The capital city is Nairobi with a population of 2.1 million. The second largest city is Kisumu followed by Mombasa. Official language is English and the National Language is Kiswahili. There are 40 other languages spoken which basically characterise ethnic diversity in the country.
SOFADECCA has proposed the HEDI-PREMIREM as an in-time intervention to help meet some of it expectations as described below and in the Program Narrative Plan (PNP).
Download our program proposal 
here.
AREAS FOR PILOTING THE HEDI-PREMIREM PROGRAM: HEDI-PREMIREM shall thus be implemented in Nyanza Province (Migori, Suba, Kuria, Nyando and Homa Bay Districts); Western Province (Kakamega, Mt. Elgon, Bumala, and Mumias Districts); Nairobi (Kibera, CBD, Industrial Areas, and Public Institutions and Corporations); Rift Valley (All Flower Farms in Naivasha, Nakuru, and Kericho Districts; Baringo and Narok Districts; West Pokot, Turkana, Samburu, Laikipia and Transmara); and North Eastern Province.
• To provide disaster preparedness and management to the community.
• To develop and strengthening emergency institutions in the society.
• To promote young people's involvement in disaster preparedness and response while training them in general disaster management and evacuation procedures.
• To promote the junior SOFADECCA Movement amongst the youth of all races and to create awareness in general disaster and evacuation procedures.
• To propagate the ideals and the humanitarian principles of SOFADECCA.
• To offer or facilitate the offering of formal and informal training on fire and disaster amongst its members and other registered trainees.
• To be non-partisan, gender-sensitive, non-discriminatory society discharging its duties, responsibilities and obligations without favour or prejudice.
1.) Lack of Specialised Training.
2.) Lack of Appropriate Equipment.
3.) Lack of Adequate Resources.
4.) Lack of Systematic Disaster Mitigation and Response Mechanism.
The Society, from the above summary of activities and experiences, thus has over 10 years of experience in Fire and Disaster Operations. Its trained personnel having developed capacities of various staff and personnel drawn from institutions, hotels, companies and municipal councils.
SOFADECCA PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION ORGANOGRAM.
Kenya, as any other third world and developing countries, has had its own share of disasters and emergency situations ranging from the 1998 Twin Bombing of USA Embassy in Kenya and Tanzania, Bombolulu Girls Inferno, Kyanguli Boys High School Inferno, Collapse of the Kihonge Building in Nairobi’s Ronald Ngala Street, Flower Farms Fires in Naivasha, Estates ravaged by fierce fires bringing down buildings thereby causing great damage and loss to property and lives.
Despite these grave consequences of disasters, not much has been done to mitigate or control these consequences. Disasters continue to strike with greater frequency, magnitude and complexity. In most cases, the natural phenomena triggering the disasters are beyond human control. However, vulnerability to such disasters is a result of man’s own creation. Environmental Vulnerability and Poverty are mutually reinforcing: 80% of the poor in Latin America, 60% of the poor in Asia, and 50% of the poor in Africa live on marginal lands that are characterised by poor productivity and high vulnerability to environmental degradation and natural disasters. Developing countries, which necessarily place high priority on food production and industrial activities, have fewer resources left to reduce disaster risk.
Download our program proposal here.
SOFADECCA looks into the future of disaster operations with optimism as it seeks to forge partnership with local (in-country) and international Fire and Disaster Societies with an aim of bolstering its own capacity and abilities to respond effectively to Fire and Disaster when and if they occur.
P. O. Box 13875-00100
Nairobi Kenya.
Tel: +254 724 752 458
Victims of displacement, child bombing and starvation