Sheillah Makwiti

" I live in Mpando village. 11 km from Luchenza. There are six children in our family. My father was a teacher and my mother a farmer when I was born in 1988. As a primary school student I worked hard and had no problems with my schooling, but when I was in standard 5 my father divorced my mother, and we were the victims of that divorce as we suffered from a lack of school uniforms and basic necessities, poverty was among us. Unfortunately father passed away when I was in standard 6.

Uncle took over the care of our family, but he passed away when I was in form 2 leaving behind our family and his own. It was hard for my mother to care for us, and I was facing a lot of probems I was unable to solve. I started failing at school.

In form 3 the deputy headmaster asked me what was disturbing my learning and studies. When I told him we had no one to care for the family, he felt sorry for me.

Within two weeks he had found Fochta who supplied school fees and rations which I took home, and from that time my performance at school changed, and I was able to read rather than worrying.

I have passed the Malawi School Certificate and am waiting to go to any college which will fit my subjects"