Image Source: Pacific Assist
By Lillian Sopera Keneqa – EMTV News, Port Moresby
Pacific Assist, through their mission of inspiring self-reliance, has donated furniture to schools around the Pacific Region. This non-profit organization based in New Zealand and Australia, has now partnered with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in PNG, to donate furniture to schools in NCD. They hope to spread out to other regions of PNG in the years to come.
Pacific Assist Director, Riki Tukukino said “We believe that by providing school furniture, it gives students a greater environment to learn.” Pacific Assist started about four years ago. Another Director of Pacific Assist, Richard Mclean said, “My brother served on the council in New Zealand. He got a call from a principal saying I am getting new school furniture and I don’t know what to do with the ones we have.” Mclean’s brother immediately thought of the Pacific Islands but did not know whom to contact for distribution to get the furniture to the islands.
Mclean said, “He talked to LDS charities and here we are today.”
Pacific Assist has expanded its focus in addition to education, health and well-being, economic development, and humanitarian aid are also part of their concentration areas. Mr. Tukukino said “We are shipping donations of beds which will go to POM general hospital and as the years go on, we will reach the out centers too.”
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Charity in Port Moresby is now their point of contact and the Church is encouraging individuals in making full use of these opportunities.
Welfare Program Manager, Eddie Alembo said, “The Church does not discriminate when it comes to receiving funds. We are all to work together with other NGO’s, other communities that have basic needs.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PODMRqKeMw
