The African Lifesaving Academy (ALA) is a not for profit Association that was incorporated in the Kingdom of Morocco on 12 January 2017. Only Moroccan citizens could be Member of the Academy, which reduced the Academy to only one nation. Its statutes were internationalised on 23 June 2018 in Agadir – Morocco. The members were still individuals and not institutions. The Academy was institutionalised in 2024 as a part of the ILS-Africa and is governed in the Bye Laws of the ILS-Africa Lifesaving Confederation as a Permanent Committee. The Member countries of ILS-Africa are the same member countries in the Academy.
CONTACT
ILS-Africa Lifesaving Academy
Complexe Sportif Moullay Abdellah, Rabat 10090, Maroc
OBJECTIVES
The ALA has the following objectives:
- Promote research and develop in the population the sense of duty, ethical and moral education.
- Promote the development of lifesaving, rescue and first aid and the appropriate means of rescuing fellow citizens.
- Promote education of drowning prevention to the population and act in cooperation with other African humanitarian organisations.
- Encourage the teaching of lifesaving, lifeguarding, rescue, first aid, AED and resuscitation and create educational exchanges on lifesaving techniques and operations.
- Contribute to the improvement of methods and means of water rescue, resuscitation of drowning and emergency care and promote uniformity of equipment, information, symbols and laws on the control and regulation of the aquatic environment.
- Encourage all research in the field of accident prevention in the aquatic environment and rescue, not only with regard to the equipment to be used, but also with regard to prevention, rescue, first aid and resuscitation techniques.
- Organise the training of managers and sanction training, through courses, conferences and other means.
- Reward exemplary actions illustrating its purpose.
- Encourage the organisation and participation in African congresses with the aim of creating friendly ties, solidarity and collaboration between members and other organisations that pursue the same humanitarian goals.
- Raise awareness among all African citizens about drownings and prevent drowning through regional, national and international drowning prevention conferences.
- Highlight vital components as well as knowledge, study and protection and respect for the environment on the tourist, artistic, cultural, educational or scientific levels.
- Teach, facilitate and develop the global exchange of information and best practices of rescue in Africa through development centres.
- Unite sports and utilitarian groups in order to achieve the social purpose.
- Undertake other actions that will, according to the ALA, achieve their objectives.
- Create new groups, multiply rescue and assistance stations, schools of first aid and aquatic rescue.
- Organise, encourage, develop and disseminate the practice of lifesaving in all its forms, through any appropriate action.
- Encourage exchanges and cooperation between African Academies and research and education institutions.
EFFECTIVE MEMBERS
The 2024-2028 Academy Leadership and Members are:
- President: Dr Mziwoxolo Mayedwa PhD from South Africa.
- Vice-President Research: Dr Abdou Gafarou Gbadamassi MD from Togo.
- Vice-President Education: Prof Dr Mohamed Kotb PhD from Egypt.
- Secretary General: Ibrahim Benzouina from Morocco.
The ILS-Africa General Assembly unanimously approved the following Members of the Academy:
- Abdelkader Chekroun (Algeria).
- Grace Manuela Nguelo’o Mabeu (Cameroon).
- Ingy El Shazly (Egypt).
- Dr Hesham Rabia Qura PhD (Egypt).
- Njie Yorro (Gambia).
- David Kwasi Afezame (Ghana).
- Mounia Melhaoui (Morocco).
- Abderazzak El Aoud (Morocco).
- Dhaya Sewduth (South Africa).
- Helen Herbert (South Africa).
- George William Mukasa (Uganda).
- Job Kania (Kenya).
- Zakariaho Kanoute (Ivory Coast).