After months of lockdown and learning from home, primary school students return to classes on Monday, but one school in Upolu has a lot of reason to get back to the classroom.

One of those primary schools, Salesatele Primary School in Upolu, will welcome its students back to an upgraded and newly renovated school ground.

With funding courtesy of the Serendi Coco Samoa (S.C.S.) Ltd Fair Trade Premium Fund, renovation works which aimed to improve sanitation, hygiene and safety for the children during this pandemic has just been completed.

The primary school received funding of $62,254 from S.C.S. to build a new lavatory block including shower facilities, an access ramp to lavatories, a drinking fountain for the students, and fence repairs for the security of the students. 

The funding also covered the cost of  a new entrance gate, new railings for classrooms and a concrete fence behind the classrooms. Other much needed repairs were also provided for such as new windows and doors and a fresh coat of paint for the school building.

Each year the S.C.S. allocates a percentage of their sales made from selling organic coconut oil into the Serendi Coco Fair Trade Premium Fund. The Fund is then used for social and community development projects such as this renovation and upgrade work.

The Fair Trade Premium Fund Committee, whose members are made up of coconut farmers, workers in the coconut industry and S.C.S. staff identify the projects to be supported. It is the first fund of its kind in Samoa.

According to the S.C.S. spokesperson Sally Grevel, the more products they sell, it translates to more benefits trickling down to the farmers and their communities.

“The more Fair Trade and Organic coconut oil we produce and sell, the more the farmers and their communities can benefit through projects such as these. It empowers farmers to decide on how they will invest into the future of their businesses and their communities," she said in a statement. 

The SCS is a major exporter of organic and fair trade certified coconut oil. The company’s aim is to revitalise the coconut industry in Samoa and to ensure sustainable development by investing back into the farmers, their families and the wider community.