The Focus on Ability Short Film Festival Malawi is a powerful platform that celebrates the talents and stories of persons with disabilities through the lens of film. Organized annually by FOAS in partnership with NOVA Employment (Australia), the festival invites filmmakers to produce short films that challenge stereotypes, raise awareness, and showcase the abilities—not the limitations—of people living with disabilities. Since 2017, the festival has empowered dozens of local storytellers, awarded inspiring talents, and brought communities together to reimagine inclusion, one film at a time.

The Disaster and Humanitarian Support Program by Focus on Ability Society (FOAS), with generous support from NOVA Employment (Australia), provides timely emergency relief and long-term recovery assistance to communities in Malawi affected by natural disasters. Since 2019, FOAS has delivered food, sanitation supplies, school materials, and rehabilitation support to flood and cyclone survivors—particularly persons with disabilities, the elderly, women, and children often excluded from mainstream aid. The program champions inclusive humanitarian responses by addressing communication barriers and strengthening local resilience through community-based initiatives like climate-smart farming.

Farming with Purpose. Educating with Heart.

This youth-led initiative empowers vulnerable communities in Karonga, Malawi, by combining climate-resilient agriculture with education support. Through sustainable farming practices—like organic manure production, solar-powered irrigation, and flood-resistant crops—FOAS supports food security while generating income to pay school fees for disaster-affected children. The project equips youth with agroecology skills, promotes gender inclusion, and turns climate-smart farming into a lifeline for education and resilience.

Bridging Generations. Preserving Culture. Inspiring Unity.

The YETO Festival is an intergenerational storytelling and cultural event that brings together youth and elders from rural communities in Karonga, Malawi to promote social justice, climate awareness, and cultural heritage. Through folktales, traditional dances, indigenous cooking, and village walks, the festival fosters mutual respect, combats age-based discrimination, and creates space for dialogue between generations on issues like climate change, chieftaincy conflicts, and community cohesion. It is a celebration of wisdom, identity, and unity—where tradition meets transformation.

Scoring Goals for Health. Saving Lives Through Sport.

The Pneumonia Football and Netball Bonanza is a unique, sports-driven health awareness campaign organized by Focus on Ability Society (FOAS) in Karonga, Malawi. Funded by the Mérieux Foundation and the Every Breath Counts Coalition as part of the World Pneumonia Day 2022 Small Grants, the initiative used community football and netball matches to raise awareness about pneumonia—the world’s leading infectious killer of children and adults.

Held across several villages in Kaporo, the bonanza gathered hundreds of youth and families to enjoy local sports while receiving life-saving pneumonia information. Through match commentaries, pre-game health talks by medical professionals, and customized messaging, the event reached remote communities with vital education on the signs, causes, and prevention of pneumonia.

This innovative campaign combined the passion of sport with the urgency of public health to turn spectators into informed health advocates—proving that awareness can be both fun and life-saving.