Ex-students give back to school

By Nefertiti Matatia 13 April 2018, 12:00AM

St  Mary’s College received school furniture, reading materials and sports equipment yesterday.

This was a generous donation courtesy of the class of ‘86 alumni of the school. 

The donation included 138 desks, 175 chairs, 50 computer chairs with wheels, three computer desks, four piece P.A. system, 40 boxes of library books and text books and some sports equipment.

Francine Meredith, the President of the class of ’86, told the Samoa Observer there would be 50 more desks and 30 chairs arriving in the next two weeks.

She says this was their way of giving back to the school that helped them achieve academic success.  

“We have planned this project for a long time and it has always been the priority to give back to our school.

“We have girls who are now living in New Zealand who helped and those here in Samoa. So we combined our efforts to bring the container here.

“All this stuff came earlier this year from Sancta Maria College when they were upgrading their classroom and they had desks and chairs they needed to give away.

“They heard through one of the parents, Helena Kleis, who is the mother of their current Head Girl that St Mary’s College in Samoa was affected badly by Cyclone Gita and was in need of help.

“So Helena Kleis and her band of sisters, our Class of ’86 got together to fundraise for the shipping costs to bring this donation to Samoa.

“Our ‘86 alumni members both in Auckland, New Zealand and Samoa diligently worked together in this project and are very humbled and grateful for this opportunity to give back to our school here.”

Vice Principal of St Mary’s College, Sina Fitu, said they have old desks and chairs that are broken but they still use it despite its condition.

“The girls are really happy with the new supply and now they will make use of these new chairs and desks.

“We are pleased that they are now using the new tables and chairs and even though it is second hand, they are still good.

“No matter where they go, they will always come back because they still want to serve the school in whatever little way they can.

“They continue to do so many things for the school even up until now. For example, the scholarships that they have provided for the students to have better education.” 

By Nefertiti Matatia 13 April 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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