A momentous occasion unfolded at the Koroipita Settlement outside Lautoka yesterday as 502 students rejoiced in the opening of their new $60,000 Expedia-Rosie Learning Centre.
The event brought together parents, students, donors and supporters to mark the establishment of the vital educational hub. Now, students from kindergarten to university can easily access the centre and its resources.
The fruition of the learning centre facility was made possible by the support of major sponsors, including New Zealand Aid programs, Rosie Holidays, Expedia, Kontiki Finance, Rotary International, Gibson Freight, the Reserve Bank of Fiji, and Janty Bondwell.
The $60,000 investment from these partners underscores the pivotal role that tourism plays in the Koroipita community.
Rosie Holidays managing director Tony Whitton, who’s also a trustee, said; “Rosie Holidays has partnered with Expedia, the world’s largest online travel agency to invest with our partners from New Zealand Aid/ MFAT, Kontiki Finance, the Reserve Bank of Fiji, Gibson Freight, Rotary, Bondwell and Wilson Graphics to launch this new learning centre
. “The tourism dollar is circulating right here at Koroipita, creating a vital education hub for this amazing community.
“In the past 20 years, Rosie has built eight homes, pathways, playgrounds and even the kindergarten.
“But our work is not over. We have 300 new books coming from Sydney and be assured that Rosie Holidays and Expedia will continue to support this amazing community and ensure the tourism dollar circulates to everyone in this township.”
Rosie has also partnered with Expedia to build four homes, donate solar lights for many of the homes along with constructions of beds and cupboards and the learning centre.
Expedia’s area manager Victoria Hudson said Expedia and Rosie Holidays shared the belief that tourism had the power to improve the social and economic wellbeing of every Fijian.
“Fiji is a destination dear to our hearts and we are delighted to invest in education and to see this amazing community flourish,” Ms Hudson said.
The learning centre boasts a computer lab offering basic computing courses, a fullystocked library for borrowing books and versatile classroom spaces for workshops. T
he general manager of the Model Towns Charitable Trust, Paul Forrest, expressed gratitude to the sponsors for their invaluable contributions and, addressing the residents, stressed the importance of students making the most of the facility and fulfilling their commitment to the family advancement programs.
“The education of children is a primary and major area focus here in Koroipita,” Mr Forrest said.
“The trust mission is not only to supply affordable cyclone-resistant housing but to help the residents advance to mainstream jobs and housing.
“Our community development team is here to help boost childhood learning. Through our programs and partnerships with other organisations, we teach and encourage good life skills and good decisionmaking, teamwork and cultural and environmental awareness.”
