Travel report from Ellie Gutman and Gideon
During January 2014 my partner Gideon and I had the opportunity to spend a week visiting FOCHTA in Malawi. We initially got to know FOCHTA and its incredible work through my role at Sam Crawford Architects in Sydney. Gideon and I attended a FOCHTA charity event in 2010 and were inspired by the stories of empowering children through education opportunities in this historically disadvantaged region. We decided we would like to see it for ourselves and were introduced to FOCHTA volunteer Jillian Hopkins to spend a week with her in Thyolo.
The experience was fascinating and most uplifting. Jillian introduced us to the FOCHTA team, including Executive Director Amadu, Program Director Dikilani, Financial Controller Zione and Board Chair Steven Labana. The team generously organised a week of activities and tours for us through the breadth of FOCHTA’s programs. After reading with FOCHTA beneficiaries in the head office library, our first stop was visiting 12 of FOCHTA’s bursary recipients in Luchenza Secondary School. We heard how the bursary program has changed the Malawian childrens’ lives, and giving rise to their dreams for the future - to become nurses, medical doctors, lawyers and teachers and give back to their communities.
We attended the second of FOCHTA’s programs, the “Gogo” program, where grandparents are provided with basic necessities and tools to improve their livelihood and look after their grandchildren. We saw the impact of FOCHTA donations, including goats to earn income, porridge to nourish their bodies, and blankets and building materials. The Gogos and grandchildren made speeches of gratitude, sang songs for us, danced with us, and even shared their morning meal! They left us with a message of thanks for Claude and every one of FOCHTA’s supporters - and a request to continue their support providing more blankets and covers for roofs in the village.
It was very exciting to visit the site of the construction of the new FOCHTA vocational training centre outside Luchenza. We saw the great work Jillian has been doing with the team of workers on site, to make FOCHTA’s vision and Sam Crawford Architect’s designs a reality. Not only do FOCHTA and Jillian provide employment for the workers, but also they are pushing the local community towards higher global standards of building quality, and inspiring them to dream bigger for their futures. While we were in Malawi, two of the workers gained entry into construction and electrician college - and Jillian managed to arrange funding for both!
We are grateful to the entire FOCHTA team for hosting us, and to everyone we met in Luchenza and Thyolo for showing us why Malawi truly is the “warm heart of Africa”. In particular the Labana family for hosting us for a fun evening of delicious Malawi food, and taking the time to teach a couple of slow-witted ‘Zungu’s’ how to play ‘Bao’ a fun but very challenging local board game! We feel extremely privileged to have visited FOCHTA and left Malawi committed to contribute to this work in future. To anyone interested in visiting Malawi, we would encourage you to connect with the team and enjoy this life changing experience for yourself!
Ellie and Gideon