Latest FOCHTA student news
Alambeje is wheel-chair bound. Over a year ago FOCHTA found her a boarding school as her home was far from any school, so not within wheeling distance. We have been lucky to find support for her from Lisbless Kapthiwa, her classmate, who has agreed to take upon herself the round the clock role of looking after her, from lifting her in and out of bed, helping her to bathe, etc. FOCHTA recognises that Lisbless is a real heroine.
In the near future, she will be invited to a function to receive a well-deserved award. Meantime Alambeje is doing well. She has just finished her Form 3 and is at home on vacation. Recently, FOCHTA staff went to visit her after a heavy rainstorm and found her bedroom completely soaked. Looking up was like seeing stars, as the roof was full of holes. FOCHTA has since deployed funds to purchase metal sheeting to roof the whole house.
Clara Lemani. FOCHTA wishes to congratulate the achievement of Clara’s graduation in a masters degree in Bachelor of Demography. She did her two year course at Cape Town University in South Africa. Clara said “It is so good to be home even though South Africa is a much more advanced country, but unlike the Thyolo District, is never peaceful”. She was invited to our tree-planting ceremony on July 26, but could not attend as she had to work that morning. She is currently working at the Malawian Institute of Science and Technology. But to show her solidarity, she made an 8 hour journey to Luchenza, which required changing buses 3 times, to spend an afternoon having an outing to the Mulanji Mountain with the visiting Patron Claude and Steven Labana, a co-founder and his family. Clara is the first post-graduate student from our education program.
Brenda Jeremia, who graduated in December 2013 in Bachelor of Science (Nursing & Midwifery) obtained work right away in Fatima, a remote area in the southern lowlands of the country, working for an Adventist Hospital. She said that even though she has no friends there, being far away from everywhere (it would take up to six hours by buses to go home to Thyolo District where her home is), she has learnt a lot, having to do everything. There is only one resident doctor, and the only other university graduated nurse is the matron, so she was quite happy to be able to take on many responsible roles. At end of July, she will take up a new position in a government-run hospital near to Thyolo District.
Nenani James, a former FOCHTA beneficiary has been appointed to be FOCHTA’s Program Officer effective from August1, 2014. After completing secondary schooling, he was supported by us to do three diplomas in community development. He had worked as a program coordinator in a small community based organisation and latterly in a trading company.
Douglas Namame, may he rest in peace. We are very much saddened by the untimely death of Douglas who died from a sudden illness. Douglas was our secondary school beneficiary, and then has been studying a Bachelor of Science degree (Physiotherapy), a four year course, at the College of Medicine. He was due to graduate in May 2014.