About this Short Film
Against All Odds, by Alfred Zgambo (Malawi, 2022), is a short film included in the Focus on Ability International Short Film Festival. With specifics kept intentionally spare, the film explores themes of achievement, family, university, group life and adult experience in the context of physical disability. It reflects on the realities faced by people who are paralysed or use wheelchairs, and on the supports and barriers around study, community and belonging. This entry brings a Malawian perspective to our programme and invites viewers to consider resilience, access and shared responsibility in small, honest moments.
Film Details
Country:
Malawi
Category:
International Documentaries
Genre:
Personal Story
Festival Year:
2022
Filmmaker:
Alfred Zgambo
Film Transcript
My name is Jin Chitanzo Sawatee. I'm a pastor, and before that I'm an agricultural, a graduate scientist by profession. When God called me, I was going through some challenges — physical challenges like physical paralysis. I couldn't just stay home to avoid standardness of my brain and to avoid going through trauma because I had experienced a lot of challenges because of my physical disability. I was firstly searched from work before they actually re-employed me again after almost a year. Because I had gone through so many challenges I couldn't just cope; I had to rise up in my spirit to tell myself that physical disability or physical challenges doesn't mean that you are disabled. So I had to rise up in my spirit and begin to pursue some studies in order to catch up with the world.
I have founded several initiatives and organisations. I have Perry Foundation, which is a girl-child empowerment. I have founded Lion King's Generation, which is an initiative for girl-child empowerment while I was still at school. I have founded Women Arise and Shine, which is a ministry that empowers vulnerable women, and also the foundation which empowers vulnerable children, especially the girl child. I have been equipped; I have been empowered to be a woman of purpose.
In the course of all our learning for a period of about five years, there's been a lot that has happened. There have been ups and downs that have been allowed, and to finally be here where she has finally made it and she's here finally in her graduation, in my graduation gown, it makes me really happy. She's physically challenged, and even though it hasn't been easy — to be born with a mother who has always been okay and then abruptly she becomes like this — it was never easy, it was painful; we were really hurt. Even though she's like this, she still has a heart to go on pursuing greater things, and that is a great motivation for me and my brother. At least for me it is a very great motivation.
When I was young it was really hard for me to accept and to see my mum in this condition, but then, through what she has taught us, raised us up, taking us the knowledge that she got from Tina, it has also motivated me to know that everything happens for a purpose and we are at the place that God wants us to be. I'm really so grateful today because I've seen my mum. I give her a go, which is a very wonderful experience that shall never be forgotten.
All I want to say is thank you, mum, for grooming me to be the type of person that will also relate to other people. Thank you and congratulations to you, mum. Thank you, I love you so very much, and thank you for growing into the lady that I am today. I will not stop loving you and I'll always be there for you. Thank you.
Filmmaker
Alfred Zgambo is the filmmaker behind this entry. See every Focus on Ability entry from Alfred Zgambo.
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8 comments
Wow The tittle itself is Real recognize real
Amazing
Voice for the voiceless.
That is a great job Mr Alfred zgambo Keep it up
Great work Alfred.. Keep up the good work
This is quite inspiring. Everything is indeed achievable so long as you keep on pressing hard regardless of any retarding development. The sky is the limit.
Wow wow am so touched by this and keep on telling us these wonderful stories you may change someone's life who feels like a failure in our society and i feel motivated i know many also will feel the same God bless you for the work you are doing and keep on.
Nice work mr ZGAMBO