How can FOCHTA help to make a difference?

By providing education and other support, we have been able to create a sense of opportunity and hope to many people.

Young people who manage to finish their secondary schooling, and gain vocational skills, are more likely to find work, and ultimately help themselves and their families out of the poverty cycle.

Fochta's school meals and take-home rations programmes free students from the constant threat of hunger for themselves and siblings.

Fochta supplies uniforms and shoes so that students are less stigmatised for their orphan status, and kerosene for lamps so that students can do their homework at night in homes that are dark.

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FAQ

Why in the Thyolo District of Malawi?

Thyolo was identified by MSF Belgium as being one of the two most highly HIV/Aids infected regions in the country.

MSF have been working here for ten years, giving medical treatment to HIV/Aids infected people, and it was here that photographer Claude Ho was sent by MSF Luxembourg, which led to his meeting with Dr Buhendwa and Mr Labana.

Why is the Thyolo District so severely affected by the pandemic?

Several factors are responsible for the high incidence of HIV/Aids in Thyolo district:

Thyolo District lies on the main trunk road between Mozambique and Blantyre, the largest city of Malawi, and is therefore a main stopping place for truck drivers.
This district is the principal tea growing area of Malawi. Many of the tea pickers are single men from Malawi or from neighbouring countries.

Since Malawi is one of the ten poorest countries in the world, many men have gone to find work in South African mines, away from their families for long periods of time, who then return and infect their wives.

There is a local traditional practice of sexual cleansing rituals involving young girls.

Poverty forces girls, some in their early teens, into prostitution or early marriage

All the above factors have generated an HIV/Aids prevalence of 23% in the district, compared to the national rate of 14%.

How does FOCHTA select students?

Because of the level of poverty in the district, there is always a huge number of applications for bursaries. Members of the Grassroots Committee, who live among the people, will put forward names of students most in need of help. Names are evaluated by the Committees with input from the District Education Office.