Ahura Resorts and Rosie Travel Group owners Tony and Brigid Whitton recently officiated at the completion of the latest community projects for Yaro Village and its kindergarten on Malolo Island.
The Whittons, who operate Mociu private island, Malolo Island Resort and Likuliku Lagoon Resort, did the honours last week for the kindy, officially known as the Navatalesau Brigid Kindergarten.
The kindergarten has 15 students between the ages of four and five years, and operates as a partnership between the Education Ministry, Yaro Village, the Ahura Resorts Conservation Foundation and the Whittons.
A $15,000 investment that covered the installation of new solar batteries, painting of the kindergarten and teacher’s quarters, new rainwater catchment tank, village workshops on recycling and waste management, and installing recycling bins in Yaro Village was also announced by the couple.
The recycling project will involve an easy sorting system for aluminium cans, cartons/cardboard/paper, and glass. These will be sorted into bins by the villagers and transported to the Likuliku barge channel where it will be added to the resorts’ own program in their new purpose-built recycling facility.
Kindergarten teacher Shivani Shankar said the new solar batteries will ensure the supply of reliable power to support learning.
“These improvements along with the recycling bins in the kindy and at Yaro will make a big difference to the children’s education and wellbeing, and we’re grateful for the support that has made this possible — vinaka vakalevu to the Ahura Resorts Conservation Foundation.”
Mrs Whitton said she was delighted with the capital investment in the new solar batteries but also the start of their community recycling programs.
“Seeing firsthand the early learning programs at our kindy, sharing about solar energy and sustainability through recycling to five-year-olds is truly exciting,” she said.
“It is here in these formative years, when their foundations of learning about conservation and sustainability begins.”
The Ahura Resorts Conservation Foundation and the Whitton family also invested more than $40,000 in community projects in Yaro with the opening of a new 30-metre footbridge.
Mr Whitton acknowledged the conservation foundation team.
“The foundation is a registered charitable trust — part of Malolo Island Resort, Mociu Private Island and Likuliku Lagoon Resort, that is committed to the environment and the development of our resource owners from Yaro Village,” he said.
Tony & Brigid Whitton with Teacher Ms. Shivani and students from the kindergarten and Yaro Village community. Picture: SUPPLIED
(L-R) Tony and Brigid Whitton with kindergarten teacher Shivani Shankar and Ahura Resorts Conservation Foundation director of operations and sustainability Sia Rasalato outside the kindergarten. Picture: SUPPLIED
Ahura Resorts and Rosie Travel Group owners Tony and Brigid Whitton with the talatala (Reverend) and community members during the commissioning of the new Yaro Village Community Footbridge. Picture: SUPPLIED
The Ahura Resorts Conservation Foundation and the Whitton family invested more than $40,000 in community projects in Yaro with the opening of the new 30-metre footbridge. Picture: SUPPLIED
Ahura Resorts and Rosie Travel Group owners Tony and Brigid Whitton cut the ribbon for the new Yaro Village Community Footbridge. Picture: SUPPLIED
Students, teachers and people of Malolo celebrate the opening of a footbridge built with the support of Tony and Brigid Whitton, owners of Ahura Resorts and Rosie Travel Group. Picture: SUPPLIED
