Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) general secretary Agni Deo Singh gave out $3000 worth of school books to both primary and secondary school students living in the Nasole Housing Authority and Relief Trust (HART), Narere HART and Valelevu HART on Monday.
He said the union had established a separate fund specifically for assisting school children in need and the project has been in existence for 14 years.
“It’s nothing new for Fiji Teachers Union,” he said.
“We also respond to natural disasters and assist children with their preparation for getting back to school.”
He said they’re responding to the needs of the students in the aftermath of COVID.
“In the Western Division, especially when a large number of families lost their jobs, we spent something like $37,000 to assist the affected schools by preparing the students lunch for up to three months.”
He said FTU also distributed books and bags to schools in the Northern Division worth $30,000.
“Together, we teamed up with the Sangam organisation in the aftermath of the flood that devastated Vanua Levu.”
He said they hoped to do the same for the various HART centres in the Western and Central divisions in the coming weeks.
Laisani Biaukula, a resident at the Nasole HART and mother to seven children — four of whom are in primary level and two in secondary school — said the donations were much needed as most children were unable to start school yesterday due to lack of stationeries.
“We are thankful to FTU for this contribution to the community, especially to the children.”
