Schools Project Lautoka Fiji.
12/2007-8 Southern Region
To provide support for the children of the Rotary Village, Koroipita by establishing a library, computers and classroom furniture.
Background of the project
The Lautoka Schools Project was established in 2005 to provide support for the schools attended by the children from the Rotahomes Koroipita Village Project near Lautoka village. The project, now in its fifth year of operation, has provided support primarily for three schools: the Ami Chandra Memorial School, Lovu Sangam Primary and Drasa Secondary School.
From 2006, in addition to the work done in the schools listed above, members of the project team have also conducted literacy workshop for teachers from schools in the Lautoka area.
Focus of Support in 2009
Earlier in 2008, the project team had placed 4,000 books in the library and a computer lab with thirty five computers had been installed. Unfortunately, both of these areas were a total loss from the December 2008 cyclone, because of the extensive damage, the school was allocated funding by the Fiji government.
The 2009 team addressed rebuilding the school’s library and a computer lab.
A forty foot shipping container from Rotary Club of Bellerive contained school furniture, computers, books, shelving and storage units In addition, the container also carried bras for the “Uplift Project” and X-ray equipment to go to the CWM Hospital in Suva. The X-ray equipment was organized by Peter Koens from the Rotary Club of Nunawading. Also in the container were forty eight sewing machines donated by Stewart’s Sewing Centre in Devonport.
The Computer Lab
Fifty networked computers were installed to cater for th
e largest class likely to use this facility.
The attached primary school will have access to the lab.
A white board replaced the blackboard, and new display boards were built.
A donated compactus from Huonville High School was installed at the rear of the room for storage.
The Library
Shelving from North Lindisfarne Primary was erected a
nd books sorted and shelved.
Finally approximately 4 000 books were placed on the suitably labeled shelves of the school’s ‘new’ library.
Four computers were also set up in the library for student access for research.
Sewing Room
The old staffroom was painted and converted into the sewing room., students now h
ave thirty machines operating in the ‘new’ sewing room.
Staffroom
The original library was converted into the staffroom. Twenty nine teachers operate from this room and it was decided that each teacher would have their own computer.
Summary
The successful 2009 project at Drasa Secondary has been achieved as a result of an excellent team effort involving the school committee, the school’s staff and students and the project team. The result was greater than expected because of the involvement of all parties.
Contact is Veena Tilley, Rotary Club of Bellerive, 03 62445749, veenas_island@yahoo.com.au