Farai Chanda, St John Zambia (Grade V, 2013)

Farai Chanda joined St John Ambulance (now St John Zambia) in 1983 as a Badger at 5 years old, later advancing to the Cadet Division. He served as a Cadet Officer, spearheading youth programs, and eventually rose to the position of Training and Operations Officer and Deputy Commissioner until 2016. 

During his tenure at St John Zambia, he contributed to numerous initiatives, including, but not limited to: 

• Facilitating the implementation of community health programs in Lusaka, training community health workers in child care. 

• Contributing to public health efforts, including organizing the “Keep Lusaka Clean” campaign after cholera outbreaks in 1994 and 2008 with funding from Barclays Bank PLC now called ABSA. 

• Sourcing ambulances for St John Zambia from the Order of St John in Australia in 2007 and 2010, and securing second-hand vehicles from UNICEF in 2007 and 2010. 

• Helping launch the National Council for St John Zambia, bringing together prominent individuals to support its mission. 

• Facilitating First Aid training for over 5,000 people in schools, churches, and workplaces. 

• Overseeing the opening of new St John branches in Bauleni and Mandenvu. 

Farai continues to believe in the power of successful partnerships to help St John Zambia achieve its mission, emphasising the importance of collaboration with other organisations for First Aid and ambulance services. 

Through his hard work within St John, Farai was awarded a full-time job with the Ministry of Health –  a job that he holds up to now combined with his being First Aid Instructor at St John. In addition, when his time allows, Farai serves as a volunteer ambulance driver attending to events.  

He is also a uniformed officer with the rank of Deputy Commissioner within the Organisation. He attained some of his skills and trainings through trainings by St John Wales, St John Western Australia and St John South Africa.