Red Shield appeal fetches K400,000

 By CARMELLA GWARE

THE Salvation Army received more than K400,000 from various corporate bodies during the Red Shield appeal last Thursday.

Australian High Commissioner Debra Stokes praised the organisation for providing more than 50 years of assistance to the country.

“PNG mainly focuses on two areas – education and health,” she said.

“Thanks to the free education policy, the number of enrolled female students from elementary level up to high school has increased.

“Australia has its own commitment to education and we are contributing nearly A$100 million this financial year. The Salvation Army is an important partner all through our work. However, a large number of people are still illiterate.”

The Salvation Army secretary for business administration Philip Maxwell said for all issues to be solved, a strong community was needed.

“There is no magic formula for a strong community. All it needs is for people to work together, such as the haus krai (house of mourning) that was staged nationwide,” he said.

“I pray that you will find it in your hearts to assist those who are less fortunate.”

The Salvation Army was founded in 1865 by William Booth and is one of the world’s largest Christian social welfare organisations. It has more than 1,650,000 members working in more than 124 countries.

It owns the tagline “Heart to God, hand to man” and impacts the lives of more than 20,000 people in a week, covering education, disaster response and relief, law and justice, health and hygiene and community development.