Students help villagers

The school of arts and humanities at the Pacific Adventist University has integrated in its academic programme, the community at excellence development training (Cadet1) to improve living standards of assigned communities.
Dean of the school of arts Jennifer Litau said: “PAU’s motto to ‘Educate to serve could be realised when students are still studying and we believe when they complete studies that they could make contributions in service to God and humanity.
“One of the strategic goals of PAU is to reach out in community service to humanity. Through the Cadet1 programme, all second -ear students in the programme propose a rural community development project that they participate in.”
The Cadet1 projects started in 2012 had gained momentum with different communities in Central.
Litau said students were involved in water and sanitation, phonics teaching and library set-up projects.
“These projects when completed will improve the living standards of villages and become a pride of the villages where they are delivered.”
On  Aug 4, the students had a dedication service to dedicate three completed projects.
One was a waste management project developed and completed.
The project involved the building of a village waste incinerator –  first of its kind for the village whose environment greatly suffers from a lack of waste management.
The project involved the donation of two welded cages for the recycling of soft drink cans, one for the village and one for the Tubusereia Lower Primary School.
“This project reflects the uiniversity’s commitment to making a difference through practical sharing of the love of God in our neighbouring communities,” Litau said.
The second project, a library with over 100 books and a cupboard built by students, was established to benefit more than 600 school students of Tubusereia Lower Primary School.
Nine students under the project direction and management of Litau, supervision of English lecturer Judy Elisha and leadership of Margaret Yerive and Nervine Tokile, undertook library cataloguing skills training with university librarians Ita Kemba and Kebet Liven.
“Following this training, the school of humanities bought books and students catalogued and set up a library with  more than 100 books in the school. The students also taught phonics to 300 elementary students and Grades 3 and 4 students for nearly three weeks.”
She said the school board and headmaster James Barnabas and teachers welcomed the student teachers.
Nana Dai, the teacher in charge for elementary school and her team of elementary teachers worked very closely mentoring the students as well and served a well-deserved meal to honour the students and the team of lecturers involved.
Litau said the projects were partly funded from tuition practicum fees of the years 2, 3 and 4 students and subsidised by PAU.
Logistical support and management for the projects were provided by Litau, with technical support by school secretary Esther Peter, PAU carpenter Naime Kana and technical consultant David Kana.
Transport was provided by the PAU support services department and manager Ben Kuma.
The local support team was lead by Tubusereia village environment officer Felix Daroa and councillor Dika Peruka.
Daroa and Peruka said proper waste management was an urgent need for the village and the incinerator and recycled cages would greatly assist them make rules for waste management and hold the villagers accountable.
Peruka said he was pleased with PAU’s contribution to the village to reach out in practical service to the communities and strike a balance between preaching and serving.