On March 7, 1984, The Fiji Times published an article about Peace Corps director Loret Miller Ruppe presenting carpentry tools to the Lautoka Crippled Children’s School and officially opening the school’s new workshop.
The article stated the workshop cost about $35,000, with the United States Peace Corps contributing $10,000.
The staff members of the Fiji Crippled Children’s Society raised $10,000 while the Lautoka Rotary Club provided the rest.
Mrs Ruppe said the occasion was a happy one for her because it contributed to the “wonderful partnership” between Fiji and the US, working hand in hand.
She said the goal of the Peace Corps was to promote world peace and friendship.
Mrs Ruppe also hoped the children attending the school would be able to make full use of the workshop.
She presented about $200 worth of tools, which she purchased to help them start the workshop.
Her advice was for the children to make use of the workshop and to build and expand on talent so that one day they could become professionals in the field they pursued. Lautoka Crippled Children’s School headteacher Kamlesh Kumar said they needed more tools and equipment for the workshop.
His solution was to start a fundraiser with the assistance of charitable organisation’s and hardware stores.
