The students of Papauta Girls College were the recipient of agricultural supplies thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.).

The school made a request to the Ministry for some crops, fruit trees and seedlings to enable them to develop a fruits and vegetable garden. 

School Principal, Malua Taise-Latu, she said that project aims to empower and educate girls who are in school with the knowledge and skills pertaining to the development and cultivation of land.

“In order to meet and satisfy the daily needs of living in terms of food,” she added.

The resources donated from M.A.F. include: 50 packets of seedlings (cucumber, eggplant, cabbage, and beans); fruit trees (avocado; Tahitian lime, starbursts, guava mango; crops of 300 scapula and 100 manioc bundles.

Ms. Latu also highlighted that the project is part also part of their preparation for future economic downturn with regards to coronavirus and its impacts in our society today.

“The intention is to teach these young girls on how to toil the land to make a fruits and vegetable garden as a means to obtain food and money.

“And it is to support their stay inside the hostel as well as their families when they finish school mainly at this vulnerable time of our lives concerning COVID-19.

“There are 51 students, from Year 9 to 13. About 90 per cent of them are from rural areas whereas 10 per cent are from villages around town.”

She added that the benefits of these crops and plants to the students are significant.

“Students will be able to get the understanding on how to work the land to make a fruits and vegetable garden, which is useful to supply them food on a daily basis.

“Most importantly, they will bring with them the knowledge and skills after doing this project in school; to their homes assisting their parents in the development of their own families.

“One professor says and I state ‘Successful schools don't simply happen. They are successful because people make them so’ and on this note Papauta Girls College would like to thank the Chief Executive Officer and M.A.F. for their support and kind assistance in the development and empowerment of these young girls whom we nurture to become meaningful citizens and good leaders of our country in the future.”

She also acknowledged M.A.F. for helping us towards making our school a better place for learning.