Children of Namoli village in Labasa will be studying in a new classroom when school resumes, thanks to the Australian Defence Force.
The building was completely destroyed during Tropical Cyclone Yasa in December 2020, and rebuilding works for which would have been held off if not for the ADF’s suggestion that leftover material from completed projects could be used for another project.
“That was when we identified Namoli,” Divisional Education Officer Northern Iliseva Volai said.
“Namoli was not on the list of schools to be rebuilt but we are so grateful to the ADF team who, after seeing that they had leftover material, told us it could be used for another project.”
In accepting the handover, Volai acknowledged the immense work that ADF carried out.
“We can never thank you enough, ADF, for investing in our children. It is in these very classrooms that dreams are born. Thank you for doing this for us.”
ADF’s Captain Xavier Vassar said that it was an honor to be able to give back to Fiji.
“Last year we had bushfires that destroyed Australia and Fiji sent soldiers who came and stood by us in our time of need. So us being here to do this is Australia giving back to the Vuvale partnership,” Captain Vassar said.
Photo: Lusi Banuve-Leqa
