A Cape Town firefighter is jetting off to the United States of America (USA) where she will mentor, lead and learn at a training exchange for women called WTREX.
The name Kylie Paul is no stranger to the fire fighting scene. A few years ago, she led the first all-female wildfire crew in Africa.
The crew named Team Juliet, is a partnership between NCC Environmental Services, Chrysalis Academy and provincial department government.
Team Juliet focusses on empowering women out of poverty and disadvantaged communities. The majority of the crew consist of women from women-led families and half of them are mothers.
Paul, a Divisional Supervisor and Crew Leader Wildland firefighter, says she was accepted into the exchange programme held in Virginia in 2020. But it was postponed due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Paul says she has managed to network with the partners and agencies in USA and what was originally meant to be a 10-day programme has now been extended to a 5-month trip.
And since Covid-19 numbers have dropped and the vaccine became available the Plumstead woman got onto the aeroplane on Friday 18 February to be part of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Speaking to People’s Post before boarding her flight, Paul says she is both nervous and excited.
“I quit my job and packed up house. It has been quite stressful. I have arranged this whole thing on my own. I am representing a few organisations but ultimately this is my thing, so it’s stressful but very exciting.”
Paul says firefighting is just one of her many passions.
“I have huge aspirations and interests in the fields of disaster management, fire suppression, fire management and fire prevention. It is my dream to learn from many sources and to collaborate with agencies from all over the world, unified in the current goal of getting more females involved in the industry and increasing our focus on fire prevention.”
The former primary school teacher who holds a degree in environmental management says she will be returning home in June.
“So, for first two weeks I will be mentoring and crew leading at a diversity inclusion equity for women workshop in Missouri. This is all about empowering women with prescribed burning. Over the course of the months, I’ll be attending workshops and training exchanges and doing mentorship. We will take it one month at a time.”
Paul says she hopes to inspire others.
“Participating in this amazing training opportunity will show all the young girls out there that they can do anything they want to in this world, be whoever they want to, and the more women they see in firefighting uniforms the better.”
She also shares an inspirational message with other women.
“Put yourself out there; the international community is waiting for us, it’s just really a matter of engaging with them and putting yourself out there. exposing what we have to offer on our side as well. If you can reach for it, you can achieve it. put the work dedication and passion in, you can do it.”
She says she received some sponsorship and funding from the Volunteer Wildfire Services, Vulcan Wildfire Management and Vallfirest. But adds that the trip is self-funded and ask people to support her crowdfunding campaign which will be used to day-to-day expenditure.
To donate visit: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/kylie-paul-2022
