Earlier this year, Elder Robert Gordon, and his wife, Rosemary, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, met with Church leaders in Papua New Guinea to deliver donations collected for local pre-schools.
A total of 92 KG of donations were collected by members of the Windaroo Ward (congregation) in Queensland, Australia. The items included scrapbooks, colouring books, pens, pencils, sharpeners, erasers and small whiteboards. These items were given to help encourage and support self-reliance in these communities.
- Some of the teachers from Goroko, PNG. Left to right are Susie Dable, Rose Woro and Betsy Beggo.
- Sister Hafoka helping distribute donations. She is currently serving with her husband, President Finau Hafoka, who is the Mission President of Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Mission.
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Kylie McBride, of the Windaroo Ward, said, “It was my pleasure. As a teacher I have generally stocked up on student resources to supply them to students in need, who come to school without the necessary equipment, so I was more than happy to assist the students in PNG by sending these supplies.”
Across Papua New Guinea there are approximately 20-30 pre-school groups run by local mothers in various communities. The pre-schools are open to all, whether Church members or not, and focus on basic learning skills. The schools are run with very little support or funding, and struggle to supply basic needs for the children. The mothers who run these groups said that the pre-schools make a positive difference to the children who attend prior to starting school, and they were very pleased and grateful to receive the donations.
Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said, "Giving help to others—making a conscientious effort to care about others as much as or more than we care about ourselves—is our joy."