News | FOCHTA

News from one of FOCHTA’s university beneficiaries

2012-02-08T05:55:27+00:00

Brenda Chisale is in her third year of a nursing and midwifery degree at the University College of Nursing. Here is what she wrote to FOCHTA in an email earlier this month. "So far school is fine and I can't complain of anything. We have the first 6 weeks for theory sessions and the rest of the weeks are scheduled for practical sessions. However,we have a lot of content to do in the 6 weeks but am optimistic that I will be able to manage my work." {image1}

Lions Club Blantyre (Malawi) donates wheelchair to FOCHTA beneficiary

2012-02-08T05:48:00+00:00

The Lions Club in Blantyre have very kindly donated a wheelchair to the son of a Gogoz program recipient. FOCHTA are very appreciative for their generous support.

FOCHTA fund-raising dinner in Sydney on March 4, 2012

2012-02-06T01:02:57+00:00

FOCHTA Australia is holding a small dinner party on March 4, 2012 to mark International Women's Day. The proceeds will be used to conduct a series of programs for FOCHTA girl beneficiaries. A short presentation before the dinner will reveal more details about the workshops. The dinner will be held at the heritage-listed home of Fabia Claridge at Castlecrag, Sydney. A delicious selection of Indonesian dishes will be prepared by Rudi & Balinese chef Ali. Wine courtesy of Logan Wines. Children are welcome to attend. Details are below: Date: Sunday March 4, 2012; drinks will be served from 5:30pm, followed by dinner at 7:00pm Venue: 2 The Barbette, Castlecrag, Sydney Booking enquiries: Claude Ho 0402 757 346, 9440 8385 or clth31@yahoo.com.au

FOCHTA featured in international report on HIV

2012-02-05T21:08:55+00:00

The John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs is implementing a three-year Go Girls! Initiative (GGI) focusing on addressing girls' vulnerability to HIV in Malawi. They have conducted a 2-phase mapping study of community organisations targeting girls, youth, parents or communities in general. You can find the report by clicking on the link here: http://www.k4health.org/system/files/Malawi%20Mapping%20Report%20Final%20for%20CD%20ROM.pdf

Former FOCHTA beneficiary Dyton Liphale writes to Patron Claude Ho

2012-01-24T09:24:56+00:00

Former FOCHTA beneficiary Dyton Liphale wrote to Patron Claude Ho on New Year's Eve 2011 giving an update of his work as a Biology teacher at a secondary school in Mangochi, which is in the far north of Malawi. Here is an excerpt from the long letter he wrote to Claude. 'I silently have a sense of ownership about FOCHTA. To many, this can either be controversial or difficult to believe, but this is deep in my heart. FOCHTA has done great things to me. I can not just be forgetting it. It is our own organisation, what I can do to it is like doing to to myself. Others may not understand.'

FOCHTA cows give birth to two more calves

2012-01-24T09:21:29+00:00

Our productive FOCHTA cows have given birth to another two calves bringing the total to six cattle.

FOCHTA AGM held in Malawi on 21 January 2012

2012-01-24T09:10:04+00:00

According to FOCHTA Executive Officer Amadu Bwanali, the AGM was very successful. Here are the main points raised:•The District Social Welfare Officer, commended FOCHTA for the great support it is offering to transform the lives of orphans and other vulnerable children in Thyolo. She also urged the people to work and contribute to FOCHTA. She said that people should not only receive from FOCHTA but also contribute either in service or in kind. People should also be self-reliant not only relying solely on NGOs. In other ways, the communities should have the spirit of ownership towards FOCHTA. She said that her office is ready to continue working with FOCHTA. Unlike other big organisations, FOCHTA utilises its limited resources efficiently. •Senior chief of Nanseta Community also thanked FOCHTA for the great support to the communities. He urged his subjects to continue working with FOCHTA and pledged to continue protecting the land (plot) which FOCHTA has acquired for the construction of the VTC. •The representative from Luchenza Municipal Council also thanked FOCHTA for complementing government efforts in developing Thyolo educationally. Billy Bokosi, a FOCHTA beneficiary who is studying at Malamulo Nursing School, formed a social club whose members are fellow students. Amadu met him three weeks ago and he said the group would like to visit FOCHTA to donate clothes, stationery and soap to the most needy FOCHTA student beneficiaries.

Thanks to generous donations, our six FOCHTA students will be able to commence University study

2011-11-15T08:01:53+00:00

We are delighted to announce that all six recently matriculated students have received sponsorship to commence university education, with some having started already and others in early 2012. They include: 1. Siyani George - Bachelor Science (Agriculture) 4yr degree, Lydia Ho and Sacha Coles of Sydney 2. James Mphaya - Bachelor Science (Agronomy), 4yr degree, Carolyn Stone of Sydney 3. Irene Miteche - Bachelor Education, 4yr degree, Silvia Brotherton & John Wong, Sydney 4. Grace Kwanjana - Bachelor Education, 4yr degree, Beth McVicker-Murphy, Sydney 5. Keith Mwitiwa - Bachelor Science (Nursing & Midwifery), 4yr degree, Robyn Lyall, Sydney 6. Innocent Kanjerwa - Bachelor Science (Maths Edu) 4yr degree, Betty Kwok and family, Hong Kong

New FOCHTA Executive Director appointed

2011-10-26T09:30:11+00:00

The FOCHTA Board of Trustees has recently appointed Amadu Bwanali to be the new Executive Director of FOCHTA. He is to replace Cecilia Namaona who has resigned due to family reasons. The Board acknowledges her contribution to FOCHTA in the past years.

Students now entering the local workforce

2011-10-26T09:04:48+00:00

FOCHTA has supported a number of students who have completed their university degrees or college diplomas and who are now working in different capacities in the local community. These include the following: Statistician: Clara Lamani Secondary school teacher: Dyton Liphale Primary school teachers: Stenala Lamani, Andrew Nthemwe, Agness Chimowa, Lucy Chimwendo, Lion Maseya, Rexa Ndalama Clinical officer: Evance Nchingama Nurse: Dines Kathumba Animal health: Charles Bokosi Motor Mechanic: Kondwani Biton Community Development: Nenani James, Dikirani Madalitso, Calvin Dickman Business Administrators: Sheilla Makwiti, Rose Namireka Finance/Accounting: Prince Manong'a Police officer: Christopher Lawrence Electrician: Waliyesa Malenga Welders: Glyn Bwanali, Alick Magombo Tailors: Isaac Mathiya, James Sanudi Currently at University are the following: Amadu Bwanali: B Social Science (graduated in Sept 2011), Catholic University of Malawi Aaron Mwafulirwa & Douglas Namame: B. Sc. Physiotherapy, College of Medicine Treasa Thomas: B. Sc., Chancellor College Brenda Jeremia: B. Sc. Nursing & Midwifery, Kamazu College of Nursing Violet Miozi: B. Sc. Ecuation/technical, Polytechnic University Dyna Mphanje: B. Sc., Chancellor College John Kenala: B. Sc Physical Planning, Polytechnic College Henry Kadam'maja: B. Sc Land Economy, Polytechnic College Austin Kambalame: B. Sc. Irrigation Engineer, Bunda College of Agriculture Wilson Saikonde: B. Sc. Agriculture, Bunda College of Agriculture Gift Bokosi: B. Med. B. Surgery in Kenya, where for his second degree he is sponsored by another organisation The following are studying Diploma Courses: Enock Napahzi: Journalism, Malawi Institute of Journalism Funani Malate: Clinical Medicine, Malamulo College of Health Sciences Charles Prince: Nursing, Malawi College of Health Sciences Ortice Byson: Secondary school teaching, Lilongwe Teachers Training College Chitani Chipatula, Hector Shadreck, Chifundo Amosi, Lucius Gawani: Primary School Teaching, Machinga Teachers Training School