SOME students are attending classes without having had anything to eat, says Fiji National University vice-chancellor Professor Unaisi Nabobo-Baba.
Prof Nabobo-Baba said this reality had prompted the university to take steps to support students in need.
“The food company Punjas is now helping by providing food for children who are not eating, and cupboards are being stocked at every campus,” she said.
She said the initiative began in Namaka, Nadi with a launch event and has since expanded.
She said other businesses had contributed, donating bags of clothes.
“These clothes are washed, packaged, and made available for students who need them which are free of charge.”
The university has also opened its first café in Namaka, which operates as a coffee hub. The café runs a “coffee forward” system, where people can pay for an extra cup of coffee for someone who cannot afford one.
She said the initiative was designed to remove any stigma from receiving assistance.
