Fochta Malawi (Australia) Inc.

FOCHTA (Friends of Claude Ho in Thyolo Association) Is a registered NGO based in Malawi founded in 2013 by Claude Ho, an Australian, and two Africans both of whom worked for Medecines Sans Frontieres. 

This was in response to the severe level of poverty and massive HIV/AIDS pandemic. 12% of the local Thyolo District population are living with HIV/AIDS. But the social welfare especially to orphans was, and still is insignificant. The principle mission for FOCHTA has been to promote education and literacy to orphans in that country thus enabling them to come out of the poverty cycle. In Malawi, secondary schooling is not free. Since its inception, 2019 orphans have received bursary for secondary school education that which is not free in Malawi. Out of this number that we have supported, 21 have gone on to university, with 4 graduated already, including one who has obtained her master degree in Dec 2013. 

It is the policy of FOCHTA to look after orphans in a holistic way such as by providing them with counselling and basic supplies. 

FOCHTA strives to promote literacy by having built four rural libraries as well as organising literacy workshops on a regular basis.