Mormons help 21 schools with classroom furniture

By MICHAEL LAI
THE Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has helped 21 schools in the National Capital District and Central with the distribution of 1200 desks and 797 chairs in Port Moresby yesterday.
Speaking during the distribution, President Finau Hafoka said it was part of the humanitarian work of the church to support the schools that needed basic materials.
Hafoka said it was the second donation by the church. The first were four containers of similar furniture distributed to eight schools last year. “It is a free gift. But I want students to repay with good habit of learning and repay us by scoring good grades,” Hafoka told the students.
Six containers full of furniture, 30 boxes of computers and stationery were shipped from Melbourne in Australia. “They are used furniture of schools in Melbourne. Upon our requests, those schools were much interested to send them to schools in PNG,” he said.
They have been sent to Pacific Assist which helps donations to developing countries.
The desks and chairs were exempted from duty by the internal revenue commission.
They were given to the National Capital District Division of Education for distribution.
National Capital District coordinator for schools and teachers appointments Homoka Boge was in charge of the distribution.
Boge said many schools needed desks and chairs.
He thanked the church for providing the desks and chairs.
“It is a free gift and I urge the schools to use them wisely with care so that other children who come after can also use them for learning,” Boge said.
“I appeal to them to use them wisely, score good grades and find hope and opportunities in their future.”