About Us
Hi! My name is Gideon F. For-mukwai. I am a Certified Emergency Manager and I am very passionate about preparedness issues. As a matter of fact, I consider myself a Preparedness Champion working to help adverse and vantage individuals and groups prepare, respond and recover from disasters and disruptions.
Preparedness Champion
Yes, I see myself as a Preparedness Champion and my mission is to make as many Preparedness Champions as possible; wherever my journey takes me. As a preparedness champion, I am a drum major for all issues that make people and organizations safer and stronger in the face of adversity. I see this as my own call; not just a cause.
Passionate About Preparedness
Let me clarify, I was not born with a goal of being a Preparedness Champion. If anything, I shunned preparedness at all cost for many years. I did not care. Then one day, lightning struck me and my friends down! It also killed animals and destroyed my best friend ’s home. That day, I swore NEVER to go visit my friend JM again. In fact, I kept my word and Never visited JM for over a a year.
Bitter Lessons
The following year, lightning struck at my home! It destroyed my favorite avocado fruit tree and part of our home. My knees were damaged. I was devastated. I was shattered and battered. For over 3 weeks, I was crippled and clueless. My knees could not carry me anymore. Only then, it dawned on me, there was no place to hide from adversity. It was also a strong reminder that all I could do was to prepare, prevent and protect myself and those around me from similar disasters.
Preparedness Mindset
As I look back today, I know that my life has been shaped positively by the various disasters I have been a victim of. After I survived lightning disasters, I made a decision as little boy never to be caught unprepared again. As a matter of fact, most disasters can be prevented or mitigated. Today, I see many people, families and organizations that also self-inflict with disasters. Over the years, I have learned that most emergencies and disasters can be prevented, provided we are PREPARED, that is why I believe that Preparedness can make a difference.
I have volunteered, served and championed anything that has had to do with preparedness. In the year 2000, I signed on to work as a uniform Civil Defence Officer in Singapore. That job and many others that I have done have continued to shape me as a Preparedness Champion.
Preparedness Tragedy
Unfortunately, many cultures, including mine, do not take preparedness issues seriously. What a Tragedy! Because of my fervent believe that Preparedness pays, I started a company to take my Preparedness Mindset Message to the world. That is how XtraMile Emergency Solutions was born back in 2004, in Singapore, South East Asia.
XtraMile Emergency Solutions
When I founded XtraMile Emergency Solutions, all I had a was huge dose of passion for this subject and my previous background as fire captain. I had no cash, no contact and no clients. I was told I was going to fail. And yes, I did. In the long term, after my passion collided with reality, everything else fell apart. There was one survivor. Preparedness. Five years later, XtraMile has weathered many storms. Along the pacesetting journey, we have trained over 6000 professionals and executives from South Africa to Singapore and from Hong Kong to Canada.
Preparedness Vision
I believe, if only one more person embraces a Preparedness Mindset, if only one more person (child, student, adult, employee, administrator etc), then the entire community will be safer because that one person will take his or her awareness to light up the street that is dark, or to resuscitate the family member, friend or neighbor that is in a cardiac arrest.
It Takes a Village Approach
I strongly believe it takes a village to safe. It takes every one, every voice, every accent, no matter how foreign or goofy it may sound like mine. That voice could be Yours! Rather than just wish for safer organizations and families, I have created some training programs based on my own experience and research. I have designed, developed and delivered emergency preparedness programs at schools and colleges. I will be happy to bring such programs to your organization or family.
You Can Make a Difference
At the base of every preparedness effort, the focus must be on the individuals. In schools, the focus must be on the students. In corporations, the focus must be the employees because these are the people that are in close contact with the the issues. Recently, I listened to the FEMA Administrator hammering on the importance of engaging and informing ordinary citizens as critical partners in preparedness. I was impressed that I share something with him.
The Span of Our Work
During the course of this decade I have have been fortunate to speak at conferences and conduct seminars and workshops in Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Africa and of course USA. Consider to take a look at some of the projects and presentations that I conducted recently: Recent Presentation
I am currently serving as the president of the International Council, International Association of Emergency Management (IAEM). In the last 7 years, I have contributed both directly and indirectly in to the creation of new regional councils for emergency managers in New Zealand and Australia and more recently my Asia. Today, I am working with regional partners in creating new councils in Middle East, Africa and Southern America.
What You Can Do
It turns out, my message for preparedness has been yielding many followers and friends across the world. It has been resonating well with people of all backgrounds. Lets keep it as simple as possible, as engaging as possible, and as entertaining as possible. I will be delighted to facilitate, speak or present at your next event about The Preparedness Mindset. I urge you to be a Preparedness Champion! Email me for a complimentary Preparedness Guidebook at gideon.mukwai@gmail.com
Share this Post[?]
About Me
My Facebook Badge
My LinkedIn Profile
