The students of Matautu Falelatai are the fortunate recipients of the Dylan4Samoa charity’s donation of 12 laptops all the way from Switzerland, presented on Friday morning.

The Swiss charity was founded in the memory of the late Dylan Rioja who had been on exchange in Samoa when he developed an affinity with the country before his untimely passing years later. 

The charity has been assisting the Matautu Falelatai Primary School since 2017, from helping with aiding teachers' salaries, donations of school and even funding floor tiles.

The school's Principal, Salape Ioane, told the Samoa Observer that the students are blessed to have received such help from overseas.

With the 12 laptops and air-conditioned room for safekeeping of the assets, Year 7 and Year 8 students will be encouraged to use computers as they head towards college and Computer Studies.

“This is one of the many projects by Dylan4Samoa from Switzerland [...] benefitting the school,” she said.

“This is all to ensure that our students are given the best and are ready for the next phase in life when they leave our school.”

Ms. Ioane said that the resources given will be taken care of well and used exclusively for the betterment of the Matautu Falelatai’s students.

“We will take good care of these laptops because these did not come easy and we believe that if we want the assistance to continue then we should continue to use the resources responsibly,” she said.

Matautu Falelatai Primary school consists of about 260 students from Year 1 to Year 8.

Dylan4Samoa’s relationship with the local Primary School was established in remembrance of the son of the family who initiated the association in Switzerland who spent some time in Samoa with Ms. Ioane and her family.

In November 2017, the parents of the late Mr. Rioja decided to create an official association with the school after his passing in September 18, 2016.

Since then, Dylan4Samoa has had close contributions to the school with a mandate to provide easy access to education for the children of Samoa.