April 2024: CorpsAfrica projects update
The FOMA Trustees have approved grants for 8 new CorpsAfrica projects. Volunteers working alongside their placement communities will soon be able to get the projects up and running – they include rebuilding two Under 5 healthcare clinics, installing hand operated water pumps, renovating several classrooms, reconstructing a bridge, building a toilet block and a new kitchen for a community based child care centre. Good luck to all those involved – we look forward to hearing updates soon.
Keep an eye on our project pages for reports and photos.
FOMA Garden Party 2024
The annual garden party will be held on 13 July 2024 and will help to celebrate FOMA’s 55 years. There will be tea, cakes and a chance to catch up with friends from time in Malawi, as well as browse the pop-up fundraising shop to support our community projects.
If you are interested in attending, please contact sec.foma@gmail.com to request a booking form and consider a donation towards attending the event.
Spring Meeting 2024
FOMA held the first event of 2024 on Saturday 13th April. 26 members joined a virtual meeting to hear from three recent FOMA grant recipients talk about the project and impact it has had in their community – the three projects were CorpsAfrica Makanani Bridge, Cove Collective Kitchen Project and Patient Support Association Water project. Thank you to all those that attended and a big zikomo also to our speakers!
January 2024: FOMA grants – new projects underway
FOMA Trustees have recently awarded grants to 7 organisations in Malawi to support community projects. Over the coming months communities in Blantyre, Zomba and Machinga will benefit from improved water supplies through renovated boreholes and water systems. School students in Mulanje will soon be learning in a new classroom and new toilets will be constructed in Kasungu. In Karonga expectant mothers will find new beds and mattresses in the maternity wing of a rural health clinic and in Blantyre disabled adults and children attending a physiotherapy clinic will be supported with mobility equipment. Keep an eye on the FOMA Project pages for further updates and photos soon.
December 2023 – FOMA Christmas market
In early December several FOMA members raised funds by selling homemade Christmas decorations and gifts at a local market. All money raised will go towards supporting the community projects in Malawi.
For more information on FOMA gifts please see our shop page.
November 2023
Thank you to all organisations that submitted an application for a FOMA community grant in the recent ‘open round’. All projects are being considered and decisions will be made, and communicated by email, in mid-January 2023. Zikomo!
May 2023 – FOMA visits Joyful Motherhood project
Two FOMA members, Jamie and Sophie, visited Malawi in May 2023 and were able to see one of the supported projects – Joyful Motherhood (Chimwemwe mu’bereki). Accompanied by Program Manager, Glory and Nurse, Verina, Sophie went on one of the site visits and heard how the organisation is the only one integrated with public health services that provide care to family/friends taking care of orphaned children in Malawi. They see approximately 250 children a month and, although the motorbike purchased with the FOMA grant was in for repairs, it has made accessing difficult to reach areas much easier.
Attending Events
Anyone wishing to attend an event should contact the Hon Secretary for further details using the contact form on the Contact page.
There is no charge to attend the events but we suggest that a donation of £10 (minimum) per head should be made to the Charitable Trust Fund to help fund our project activities in Malawi.
AGM and Social Event 2023
The AGM and a social evening was held in London on Friday 22 September 2023.
Our Chairman gave short report on FOMA’s activities during the past year, followed by the Treasurer’s report and then Grants Coordinator detailing the FOMA grants programme and funded projects. With the business of the evening finished, FOMA members were treated to an excellent talk from Dr Alexander Chula, on his recently published book Goodbye Dr Banda, followed by drinks and time to socialise.
Summer Garden Party 2023
A Summer Garden Party was held on Saturday 8 July 2023 with 45 members gathering to socialise, hear updates on the activities of the Association and the charitable work of the Trust Fund in Malawi. Everyone enjoyed the delicious tea and cakes, a raffle with prizes and our FOMA fundraising pop-up shop did very well with sales of handmade cards, homemade jams & marmalade, aprons, tea cosies, tea towels and macrame plant hangers.