Aussie students build toilet, classroom for Tumarawa

TUMARAWA Elementary School in ward four of the Turubu local-level government in Wewak, East Sepik, has a new classroom and toilet building donated by the Bower Studio of the University of Melbourne in Australia.
The construction of the facilities will see more than 30 students in the ward and neighbouring communities benefit from the facilities.
Twelve masters of architecture students from Melbourne University led by their superiors were in the ward for a week to build the facilities early last month.
Deane Woruba, a local PhD student from Western Sydney University, said Bower Studio had a neo-natal clinic constructed in 2014 and now there were interactive learning classroom and toilet in the ward.
“Our children are our future. Giving them a healthy start in life through basic education is their right,” Woruba said.
He said even without PNG Government support, community efforts put together with partners who were willing to help could make huge impacts in the lives of people.
Many schools in the country in rural areas still lack such help from partners, either overseas or within the country, especially in building infrastructures and learning materials, Woruba said.
He said Bower Studio planned to extend its building programmes to neighbouring communities in ward 17 for the construction of a library at Sisida Primary School early next year. Funds have been secured.
Woruba urged communities of ward four and neighbouring communities to take pride in the infrastructure and look after it.
Bower Studio project leader Dr David O’Brien thanked people of Munjun and Suanum villages for their support.
Bower Studio has been working in other provinces over the years, especially with building infrastructures and other school materials and health posts.