Dryden firefighter to teach, train firefighters in Malawi this summer

Amanda Brayton is getting the chance to mix two of her passions together in one trip.

A special education teacher at Dryden Central School District (DCSD) and a volunteer firefighter at the Neptune Hose Company of Dryden Inc., Brayton will travel to Malawi for two weeks in June to teach and train fellow firefighters.

“The goal is to train Malawi’s firefighters to be independent and proactive,” Brayton said.

Brayton will travel to Malawi with Africa Fire Mission (AFM), a not-for-profit organization that commits to increasing the sustainable capacity of fire departments in developing communities. The organization is able to accomplish its mission through training, empowerment, support and encouragement.

Since Brayton was a kid, she’s wanted to be involved in mission work overseas. She started small with the Dryden fire department by assisting in giving back or donating to the community.

Now, Brayton is taking a big step in another country. Brayton was accepted into AFM’s program a couple of weeks ago, after applying for it last year.

“I found out with Africa Fire Mission, you can basically donate yourself, volunteer and go over there to provide assistance,” Brayton said. “It really resonated with me because it was something I wanted to do, anyway.”

Brayton, a Cortland native, has been a teacher at DCSD and a volunteer firefighter for four years each. She’s also the vice president of Dryden’s fire department and chair of the new member recruitment committee.

Her occupations will soon be used for “a lot of instruction and teaching” through AFM’s program, she said.

“It combines a lot of the things I like the most,” Brayton said.

So far, teaching and firefighting for Brayton have coincided only at a local level. Brayton has coordinated local field trips to Dryden’s fire station and scheduled fire presentations at DCSD, but AFM is on a different level for her.

“This is a bigger goal than I’ve ever had,” Brayton said. “There’s always risks, but I’m always willing to accept those.”

Brayton isn’t sure how large AFM’s group to Malawi will be this summer, but said she is one of two women who are participating.

“It doesn’t bother me so much because in reality the fire service in general is very male driven,” Brayton said. “Dryden has a good number of female firefighters, but it’s still very male dominated. I get along [with other firefighters] and I do my job, so it’s fine.”

The trip also gives Brayton an opportunity to learn about new cultures and people from different countries.

“I love it,” Brayton said. “I like to see other perspectives, and I am excited about other ways of learning the same job. I’m really hoping to give information, and the information I receive I can bring back to Dryden for [the fire department] and to make myself a better person.”

More importantly, Brayton is looking forward to teaching Malawi’s firefighters what she’s learned in the past few years as a first responder.

“The people of Malawi don’t have a lot of the same resources and equipment and money available to them like we do in the United States,” Brayton said. “It’s about meeting them and helping them be very empowered to do the best they can with what they have.”

Since Brayton is joining a nonprofit program on the trip, she has to pay more than $5,000 in traveling expenses and lodging. People interested in assisting Brayton with covering the costs of her trip can find a donation link on the Neptune Hose Co #1 of Dryden Inc. Dryden Ambulance Inc. Facebook page. 

To learn more about AFM’s mission, go to the organization’s website at africafiremission.org.

Dryden Dispatch appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.

In brief:

Town updates list of service areas for Dryden Fiber

As the town’s Dryden Fiber project continues to grow, more service areas have become available. The following areas are now available for Dryden Fiber installation:

Hamlet of Varna: Dryden Road (north side of road between 1056 Dryden Rd. and 1196 Dryden Rd.), Dryden Road (south side of road between 1061 Dryden Rd. and 1101 Dryden Rd.), Turkey Hill Road (both sides from Dryden Road intersection to 102 Turkey Hill Rd.), Observatory Circle, Mount Pleasant from Observatory Circle to Deerhaven Drive, and Deerhaven Drive.

Route 13/Route 366 intersection: 1274 Dryden Rd. to 1302 Dryden Rd., Hall Woods Road and Hall Road.

Etna: Various parcels east of Main Street and south of Etna Lane.

Village of Freeville: Tanbark Circle and various parcels on village streets.

Service expansions are available at Mount Pleasant Road from Deerhaven Drive to the WYXL Tower (631 Mount Pleasant Rd.), Baker Hill Road and Kirk Road (near Etna).

For information, questions or service maps, go to drydenfiber.com. 

Yoga for Life held every Wednesday in Freeville

Village of Freeville resident Michelle Dardia hosts a Yoga for Life session every Wednesday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Freeville United Methodist Church at 37 Main St.

The drop-in fee for the session is $10. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Some experience is helpful but not required, as the sessions are committed to being accessible.

Variations and modifications are offered, and extra mats and blocks will be available at each session. 

For information or questions, contact Dardia at dollysdaughter@hotmail.com or 607-279-4785.

History of masks presentation this Saturday

Southworth Library, located at 24 W. Main St. in the village, will hold a presentation on the  history of masks Saturday, Jan. 20 at 11:00 a.m.

Carol Hockett from the Johnson Museum of Art will present a unique collection of masks, ranging from Japanese theater masks to a chiwara headdress from Mali.

According to a description of Saturday’s presentation, the history of masks “began some 9,000 years ago” and from that moment, they were “used in thousands of different ways and became inseparable from our lives.”

The free-of-charge program, which is for all ages, also offers an opportunity for people to create their own masks. To register for the program, go to southworthlibrary.org.