Over 1,000 students benefit from Fochta
Friends of Claude Ho in Thyolo Association (Fochta) says it will continue assisting needy and vulnerable children by sending them to secondary schools.
Fochta Executive Director, Zione Chimpeni, said this during the closing ceremony of a week-long education camp held at the organisation’s headquarters in Thyolo.
The camp attracted over 90 students from different institutions.
“What happens is that when we start paying school fees in Form 1, we continue assisting them until they finish their education. When they have been selected to college, we follow them because we take them as our own children.
“We understand that not all the children who are selected to secondary school have school fees and there are some who have parents but they cannot pay school fees,” said Chimpeni.
She said the organisation also pays school fees for those selected to community day secondary schools (CDSSs) and provides them with school uniforms, a pair of shoes, a 50kg bag of maize, an upkeep allowance and learning materials.
Chimpeni also said 90 students had been camping at the institution where they were being coached by qualified teachers in English, mathematics, physical science and biology.
Fochta Board Member, Peter Muotcha, urged the students to work hard in what they have learned during the one-week training.
“You must be reminded that Fochta is always willing to assist you so that in the future you may be independent citizens. It is only through education that you can prosper,” said Muotcha.
In his remarks, Christopher Newiri, a Form 4 student at Mikombe CDSS who represented the participants, commended Fochta for organising the camp which he described as beneficial.
“We have been able to interact with our brothers and sisters, but we would like this to be held several times, especially during holidays,” said Newiri.
Established in 2003, Fochta is a nongovernmental organisation working in the areas of traditional authorities (T/As) Kapichi, Nanseta, Chimaliro, Nchiramwera, and Ngolongoliwa.
So far, over 1,174 students supported by the organisation completed secondary education while 50 graduated in different colleges within and outside the country.
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