School giving hope to unlucky kids

THIRTEEN-year-old Undex Brus, from Hela, topped his phonics class under Life PNG Care’s mobile education system in Port Moresby.
Brus was looking for a school to start his early learning when his friends led him to Life PNG Care’s education programme.
“He learnt of the school by following his friends and he told us so we just supported his interest,” his sister Lillian said.
Life PNG Care’s initiative, the first ever mobile education system in the country, graduated 35 unfortunate children from the Baruni and Gerehu stage six communities recently.
“We want to bring education to disadvantaged vulnerable children who have nothing to do out there,” said PNG Life Care director Collin Pake.
Life PNG Care is a charity organisation supporting the less fortunate children by providing basic necessities in life such as food, water, shelter and clothing.
The mobile education system was established this year to bring education to unfortunate children who cannot afford to go to school by going out into their communities and teaching them under tents every day.
The graduation was the first for a two-year pilot project in which kindergarten and a class of phonics students graduated.
“It doesn’t matter where you are living, you can achieve anything if you take that opportunity,” PNG Life Care board secretary Diane Johnston said,
Three children from this first batch will be enrolled at the Philip Aravure Primary School in Gerehu next year to continue their education.
The mobile education system is sponsored by ExxonMobil, Kumul Petroleum Holdings Ltd, National Development Bank and 2 Fast Motors.
The programme will continue to support these children by enrolling them in state-run schools and will even provide transportation to make sure these children attend class every day.