The FOCHTA Vocational Training Centre is finally open!
FOCHTA is delighted to annouce that the VTC is finally opened.
This VTC was first conceived twelve years ago, and although funding was made possible through supporters in Australia soon after, matters beyond our control have delayed its opening until October 2015. First, the government re-zoned the land which had orginally been promised to FOCHTA. An alternative plot was allocated to us which proved to be unsuitable. We finally decided to purchase land, and finally ontained the relevant title deed after a four-year struggle.
FOCHTA then tendered out to a reputable building contractor, who subsequently proved to be less than honest. A quantity surveyor was then employed taking six months to assess costs. Finally, another contractor was employed, and the iconic building project was completed in mid-September. The plan is to move our office from Luchenza town to this peaceful rural location in October.
FOCHTA is immensely grateful for the design and years of following up works - and patience too - shown by Sam Crawford, his colleagues and associates. A special mention must be given to Sydney architect Jillian Hopkins who served as our project manager and stayed in Malawi for a year and a half, followed by Brendan Worsley. They, as has Sam and all the others in the team below have worked on this project on a pro bono basis. And all have done so as they have a passion for helping the orphans and vulnerable young people in the Thyolo District.
Architectural Team - Sam Crawford Architects in association with Ken Warr
- Sam Crawford
- Ken Warr
- Lachlan Delaney
- Wai-Yee Ho
- Cressida Beale
Structural Engineering - Northrop Engineers
- Jamie Shelton
- Bonnie Custance
Services Engineering - Arup
-Ruth Kesterman
- Mike Dodd
Sanitation Engineering - Whitehead & Associates
- Strider Duerinckx
Project Managers
- Jillian Hopkins
- Brendan Worsley
Landscape Architect - Aspect Studios
Sacha Coles
Engineer Consultant in Malawi - Allgreen Corporation
- Kenneth Khonji
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Courses to be Conducted at the VTC
Tailoring
IT - Packages to be taught: Microsoft, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publishing and Web Browsing. Duration: 8 weeks.
Carpentry - A 6-month course for the first level, followed by two more levels.
Brick Laying - A 6-month course.
Welding - A 6-month course.
Agriculture - The 4-month course will touch on livestock management, perma- culture, agriculture, horticulture and bee-keeping.
Cookery Class - 15 days.
Nutrition Workshop.
Entrepreneurship Workshop - 5 days.
Music Workshop - from 2 weeks to 3 months.
All courses and workshops are opened to the pubic. As for former FOCHTA beneficiaries, depending on individual cases, fees may be waived.