Quake survivor continues school

By PETER WARI
THE survivor of the 2018 earthquake Jerrina Peter will be doing grade six this year at the Puinj Primary School in Southern Highlands, according to relative Foster Hungi.
She was the sole survivor of a family buried alive in a landslide during the earthquake.
She was thrown to safety by her father while her parents and two sisters perished and their bodies recovered weeks later after searching through the debris.
Since her story came out in 2018, there has been overwhelming support for her.
Hungi said: “We cannot take away what happened to her that very night where the earthquake killed people and devastated thousands of properties but we are the source of comfort.
“The village is 4km away from Mendi town. Other neighbouring villages lost homes, other properties, water sources and they have learnt that help were given by donors, the national and provincial governments but to date they have received nothing,” he said.
Mendi-Munihu district chief executive Pora Nema said the district development authority will continue to support the survivor until she is 18 years of age.
“It was the DDA’s commitment to support her through her education when the earthquake occurred so that she can be able to support herself after she
completes education and earn a living.
“The DDA has supported her and other tertiary students from the district with school fee as it is its priority to have many educated elites,” Nema said.