Digicel Foundation opens 22nd classroom in Sandaun

THE Digicel Foundation launched its 22nd primary school double classroom project at Simola Primary School in West Sepik last Tuesday.
This is the second primary school classroom project to be funded in West Sepik by the Digicel Foundation.
The steel kit structure double classroom was funded at a cost of K90,000 and includes office space, 20 new double benches, black boards, a water tank, two pit toilets and two bucket showers for female students.
Situated along the West Coast of Vanimo, in the Vanimo-Green district, the school is 22km outside Vanimo Town.
The Simola Community Primary School is a Catholic church agency school and was first established in
1996 as a community school and then elevated to primary school status in 2007.
The school has 117 students on its roll and a teaching staff of three. 
The school has three classes (Grade 2, Grade 4, and Grade 7) which are accommodated in one double semi-permanent classroom and one single semi-permanent classroom, which are rundown and have dirt floors.
The Digicel Foundation-funded
double classroom is their first permanent classroom.
The Simola community, comprising of a population of close to 1,000 people, is very supportive and have funded and built the existing classrooms without any donor funding.
School head teacher Sharon Paim said this was their first permanent double classroom and their teachers and students could not wait to start the new school year in their brand new classrooms.
“Digicel PNG Foundation’s funding of a permanent double classroom is a timely donation for the school, our students and teachers and the community can’t thank you enough.”
The school is an outstanding example of community ownership, with community members engaged in building all the classrooms at the school voluntarily.
Foundation chief executive officer Marina van der Vlies said they endeavoured to target and support communities like Simola.
“We are delighted to support their achievements and commitment through the provision of better resources and school structures such as these double classrooms and we take the opportunity to wish them all the very best for the next academic year.”