Taumeasina Island Resort Director, Tulaniu-O-Atua Sir Kostas Constantinou, has made a private donation to Upolu’s Home of the Elderly at Mapuifagalele amidst a time of crisis. 

“The Mapuifagalele Home for the Aged, aged care home in [Upolu], and the dedicated Sisters of the Poor were delighted to be recognised this week by Sir Kostas Constantinou,” a statement issued by the award-winning Taumeasina Island Resort said. 

“Tulaniu-O-Atua and the management team from Taumeasina Island Resort [made] a financial donation to assist with their ongoing operational costs and a special morning tea cake [...] was shared and enjoyed by all.”

Sir Kostas Constantinou, a prominent business figure in Papua New Guinea, has long supported the Little Sisters of the Poor, not just in Samoa but also internationally and has visited the home, many times both in his capacity at Taumeasina, and also in his capacity as the Chairman of the Bank of the South Pacific. 

“The dedication, commitment and compassion of the sisters of the poor makes a real difference to the lives of the residents and so many families in Samoa,” he said. 

The sisters at Mapuifagalele Home are very familiar with the resort.

“The resort had one request for the sisters and the residents. To pray for solutions to the ongoing pandemic, that has affected millions of lives around the world, and also pray for Samoa Tourism and the global tourism industry that provides jobs to so many people and communities,” the statement said. 

Sister Lucy Kallungal, on behalf of the Little Sisters of the Poor, said their residents have special needs, sickness or old age and their families find it extremely hard to look after them. 

“It is especially important we try to help families who are poor and cannot afford to provide what is necessary,” the statement said. 

“We are willing to take them in and happy to provide whatever they require. 

“Donations such as these help to keep the home operating, buy medicine, buy food, fix broken wheelchairs and equipment and items to make the residents comfortable,” she said in the statement.”

The Little Sisters of the Poor an international congregation of Roman Catholic women religious founded in 1839 by Saint Jeanne Jugan and they serve the elderly poor in over 30 countries around the world including Samoa. 

The Little Sisters of the Poor arrived in Samoa in late 1970l 

Nine months ago, the Little Sisters of the Poor appealed to the public for donations with the coronavirus pandemic State of Emergency (S.O.E.) posing challenges for the residents in terms of their upkeep.

Sister Mareta and Sister Maureen, who spoke on behalf of their sister-in-charge, Sister Alosia, told the Samoa Observer at the time, the state of emergency and its lockdown has resulted in the residence receiving fewer donations and inhibited their ability to go out to seek donations.

"What we are facing is not really a big problem but we rely a lot on the charity of the people and donations from the people of Samoa,” she said. 

“We go out every day to seek assistance from people such as monetary assistance or anything they can offer.” 

Sir Kostas is chair of various companies including Airways Hotel and Apartments, Lamana Hotel, Lamana Development, Alotau International Hotel, and Bank of South Pacific. 

If you would like to donate to the Mapuifagalele Home for the Elderly, you can contact the Sister-in-charge Sister Alosia on +685 7798680, Sister Maureen +685 7235676 or the office phone with +675 22636.