A generous couple from Australia is supporting Vare-Tutty Adventist Primary school in North Vella, Western Province to build a much-needed sanitation and hand-wash facilities for the students.
David and Suzanne Bannister recently donated six toilet systems and building materials to the school for a new ablution block.
And parents, guardians and supporters used the recent Education Week from October 15-17, to begin the construction work.
Daromae Aseri, the school headmaster said, the current school toilets and hand-wash facilities are in derelict state, and badly requires replacements.
“There are four (4) water pour toilets; two for the girls and two for the boys but the boys and girls never use them for a number of years.”
With the construction set to begin, he believes, the completion of the new flush toilets and wash-hands facilities will end the challenges that the boys and girls face to use the nearby bushes and mangroves when nature calls.
“The completion of this project will achieve one of the key priority goals of the school Board and parents to build a proper modern flush toilets and wash hands facilities for the school.”
Mr. Aseri said, he has been seeking assistance from donors, especially the NGOs since 2023 but their responses have been slow, most probably because of the school’s isolation in the rural North Vella La Vella Constituent.
But at the same time, parents and the school Board continued to raise funds towards the project, he added.
Mr. Aseri was pleased to learn when David and Suzanne Bannister, who out of their good hearts, offered to fund the toilet systems and its building materials.
“The donation includes six toilet systems and the roofing and walling materials for the building. These materials are now on site at the school.”
It was revealed the soon to be constructed ablution block will house three separate water flush toilets for the girls and two water flush toilets for the boys.
These facilities will be supplied with reliable water supply so they can be kept clean for the children to use.
Mr. Aseri on behalf of the 167 students of Vare – Tutty School, the School Board, parents and teachers sincerely thanked David and Suzanne for their donations to the school.
During this education week parents, teachers and the students worked together. Women collected gravel and sand and carried them to the project site.
Men helped in digging and levelling the ground for the new project site.
Vare-Tutty Primary school is located at Legoe Hill top at Dovele Area of North Vella La Vella Constituent. It is located at the centre of five villages: Boro, Zutapati, Leangai and Suanatali. The school was first established in Boro but relocated to its current location in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
