TWO KEREMA DISTRICT SCHOOLS BENEFITED FROM DIGICEL FOUNDATION

Gulf : Digicel PNG Foundation continues its investment in education infrastructure and for this month, Epo Uriri Primary School and St. Vincent De Paul Terapo Elementary School were the proud recipients of a new double classroom each to a total cost of K190, 000. The launching of the Digicel Foundation funded pre-fabricated all steel double classroom infrastructure at Epo Uriri Primary School was made more jubilant with the school’s pre-Independence celebrations last Friday. Situated five hours outside of Port Moresby and about ten kilometers west of Kerema Town, Epo Uriri Primary School’s new double classroom will provide much needed space for 40 extra students at the school. At K100,000, this education infrastructure package includes an office space,  20 double desks, a water tank, two ventilation improved pit (VIP) toilets and solar lighting. At the launching of the classrooms, Kerema Urban Local Level Government Mayor- Keith Fareapo, thanked Digicel Foundation for its generosity and commitment  in rural districts to raise the bar and the morale of students and teachers alike in pursuit of education excellence. Mayor Fareapo said; “Digicel Foundation, your generosity across the country has not gone unnoticed and we are truly grateful to be one of the many recipients of your investment in improved school infrastructure. Our students and teachers at Epo Uriri will ensure that we look after your investment with pride.” The school was built in 1980 from timber left from an old Steamships rubber plantation that operated back in the 1950’s. The school has one big bush material double classroom with an office in between and a rundown makeshift single classroom. Grades Two and Three are housed in one room of the double classroom building and Grades Four and Five occupy the other room. The makeshift classroom, on the other hand, is occupied by our Grade One class. Chairman of the Board of Management, Francis Aru shed tears of joy describing the education infrastructure as an impetus for change. He said; “This investment was a catalyst for the community to also build their teachers houses near the school.” Meanwhile another Kerema District school, St. Vincent De Paul Terapo Elementary School also located four hours outside of Port Moresby on the Hiritano Highway, received a similar double classroom building earlier this month. Aside from the annual school subsidy, both schools have not had any external support, except from their own community for the upkeep of the school and its grounds. Digicel PNG Foundation CEO-Marina van de Vlies said; “We believe education is the single biggest opportunity that we can give our children. Imagine the path Papua New Guinea will chart in the not too distant future with a population that has been educated. Despite continuous hardship faced by the Epo Uriri Primary School and the St. Vincent De Paul Terapo Elementary School, they have continued to operate with the support of their community and it is this great community partnership that is worthy of our support as we recognize their strive to become stronger communities for the future.” To date the Digicel Foundation has funded 160 community based projects covering 22 provinces in PNG and put K13 million back into marginalized PNG communities which has directly impacted more than 100,000 people. The Digicel Foundation plans to continue the funding of community projects in the area of basic education and health aiming to support communities as they become more self-reliant in the future.