Letter from Innocent Banda
My name is Innocent Banda, and I will be turning 23 years old this year on 6th July. I have just finished my Bachelor’s Degree in Theology and Religious Studies at Mzuzu University - a program of 4 years duration.
I was born in a family of two, with I as the last born. My father was an electrician and my mother was a nurse. When I was 2 years of age, my father passed away. However, my mother managed to take care of us until the time she was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2011. Due to the sickness, she couldn’t work anymore, and she lost her job too. Since that time, we have faced financial challenges, and things worsened when I was selected to Luchenza Secondary School in 2013. My first two years at Secondary school were difficult. Fees were a challenge as my mother could not manage to provide them. Luckily, when I was in form 3, I was considered by FOCHTA and they started helping me with school fees. My life changed and so did my performance. I had no time to worry again about my school fees; I only concentrated on my studies. My performance changed, and I was one of the two students with the highest points at the Malawi School Certificate Examination in 2017. FOCHTA’s good work continued to my tertiary education at Mzuzu University. All my tuition and upkeep fees were covered, and my life at university has been a success.
I am truly grateful to FOCHTA for the helping hand they have rendered in my academic pursuits. But in particular, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to my sponsors Ms Lucy Steinitz and Ms Mireya Garcia. They have not only played a great role in my academic success by co-sponsoring my fees, but also have given me moral support all these years. Thank you to you all and may you be blessed always.