Today I had the opportunity to address the board members of the Duna Elementary School in West Taraka. The school has had a half finished classroom sitting idle for the past six months, , each time I would walk past the unusable classroom I would feel both sorry and a little angry. A couple of weeks ago I approached the Chairperson of the school and suggested that he call a special board members meeting to discuss specifically the state of the unifnished classroom.
Today was the day.
The meeting went for approximately 2 hours and I believe that the message did get across. I told them all about how important education is and that if they (the board) continued to neglect the completion of the new classroom that this time next year – it would still be sitting there… incomplete. It was decided during the meeting that a followup meeting would be held next Sunday and the parents of the children would be invited to attend. Therefore next Sunday – I get to address the parents and teachers of 106 students. All need to be engaged in this project. Where there's a will there is always a way. Ideally, I will be able to motivate them enough to take charge and get that dam classroom finished. I suggested the 31st of December as being a reasonable target date to aim for.
PNG has brought me many opportunities to help not only people but communities as well. These mini projects that I get involved in are certainly far from money generating schemes of any form and the fact is that my poor wallet is generally worse off but opportunities to assist and help the locals with the adaption to this so called “new” world are plentiful. Besides, charity, generosity and the giving of oneself certainly comes with its own type of reward and fulfillment.
Somehow I have tapped into the “giving” market here in PNG and this is edging me towards a crossroads in life. I'd love to giveaway on a full-time basis but have the practicalities of day to day living to think about and consider.
As I said in my talk when I addressed the school board…
Where there's a will there is always a way!!
Nice Rob, would it make a difference to the schools revenues if that classroom was built?
E,
I don’t think so – local Mum and Dads are too busy spending their few coins on “other” activities and unfortunately none leftover for the school fees.
Sadly, the school has since burnt down:
http://www.trupela.com/2008/06/03/one-school-and-a-home-go-up-in-flames/
…but still going strong!!
R