The Fiji Society for the Blind received an early Christmas gift of more than $15,000 worth of donations from Queensland Insurance this week.
The event also marked the company’s 13-year partnership with the society.
Senior communications manager Kim Strudwick reaffirmed the company’s commitment to uphold community resilience by empowering individuals to overcome challenges and lead independent lives.
“For nearly a decade, the partnership with the Fiji Society for the Blind School has helped improve the lives of students and their families,” Ms Strudwick said in a statement.
“With a total contribution of over $180,000 over the past 10 years, QBE, through the QBE Foundation, continues to champion initiatives that foster education, mobility and opportunity.
“This year, the QBE Foundation has gifted an additional $15,000 to the school.”
Ms Strudwick said the donation would provide access to transportation and initiate early intervention programs for students.
“Of the donation, $10,000 funds a vital school bus service, ensuring safe commutes for 13 day students along the Suva-Nausori corridor.
“The bus also supports extra curricular activities, creating opportunities for the school’s 23 students to connect, grow, and thrive.”
She said the Foundation’s $5000 investment in the Early Intervention Program would provide vision screenings, home-based training and mobility support for 30 children across Fiji.
The society’s executive director, Barbara Farouk, said they were immensely grateful for QBE’s support for more than a decade.
“QBE has been supporting us for the past 13 years,” said Ms Farouk.
“We are thankful for the donations as it eases financial strain because we mostly operate through donations.
“This donation will also ease the burden of parents providing access to transportation for students.”
