Effort to prevent loss of learning

CHILDREN

Life PNG Care appeals to city motorists to support its car wash effort

TOMORROW, Nov 20 is International Children’s Day. The day’s theme is to help children to recover from interruptions and learning losses experienced through the pandemic in the last two years.
In the National Capital District, Life PNG Care, a charity organisation that has provided a home and education to orphans and abandoned children is again appealing for help to educate these underprevileged children in 2022.
The pandemic has not only disrupted its education programmes but has also affected its planned fund-rising events.
Life PNG Care’s major fund-raiser, the annual charity dinner has been cancelled for two years in a row. Founding director Collin Pake is appealing to city residents and the business community to support it in this time of need in order to send the 500 or so children back to school in the new year.
One of its annual charity events has been a car wash at the 2Fast Motors yard within the Vision City Mega Mall. This year it happens on the Children’s Day, tomorrow. Pake says about 30 children and youths will be involved in the car wash which will involve cleaning and vacuuming as well. There will also be a sausage sizzle.
Used car dealer 2Fast Motors has assisted Life PNG Care with this annual charity car wash for the last five years. Besides that the company has also donated cash and items in kind to the charity. Other business houses have also assisted, including the China PNG Friendship Association. Pake says individuals have helped by taking in their cars to be washed during the fund-raising event at Vision City in the past. He is appealing to the public to drive by, have their cars washed and, grab a sausage roll and donate to educate children who are his large family.
“We also have a child sponsorship form which we send to interested corporate citizens and individuals. They can sponsor a child by signing that to assist monthly, quarterly or annually.
“We are appealing to the public to donate towards this cause to raise K400,000 before the end of the year. So far we have raised K80,000 and we still have need to raise the balance of K320,000,” Pake says.
The children and youth under Life PNG Care are in elementary, primary and tertiary institutions.
This is a special group of young people who have been picked up from the streets and settlements eight years ago. They have been groomed and trained to be responsible citizens for tomorrow. Each one has been given a chance, an opportunity of a lifetime to fully benefit under Life PNG Care’s Strongim Pikinini Education programme to continue their education until graduation.
Pake told The National in August that this year the charity managed to send 425 students to school.
Three of these students are studying in university, 86 are in secondary school, 226 are in primary school and 185 are in elementary school.
Of the 400 students attending school this year, 118 are girls, two of whom are currently studying at the University of PNG. They have been benefiting from Life PNG Care’s Strongim Pikinini Education programme since 2013.
“It seems like the deadly virus will rob 500-plus children’s future as we continue to face these challenges. Their hope and aspiration to become someone in the future can fall apart if they are pushed back into the streets,” he said then.
“You can stand with us now to shoulder this together. Let’s give our children and youth a second chance in life, a life that is promising. Let’s be part of the solution.”
Pake thanks the companies and individuals who are supporting tomorrow’s car wash. They are: Lee Partners, Ivan Lu (platinum sponsors); Leon Hardware Ltd, A Plus Manufacturing Ltd (gold sponsors); Wintop Ltd, Trukai Industries, Phone Tech, Kanda International Ltd (silver sponsors); and 2Fast Motors Ltd (host sponsor).
Pake also acknowledges the support of The National, Colour Boys, Vision City Mega Mall and FM 100.