Digicel PNG Foundation launched it’s 22^nd primary school double classroom project at Simola Primary School in the Sandaun Province on Tuesday (Dec 6).

This is the second primary school classroom project to be funded in the West Sepik Province by the Digicel Foundation.

The steel kit structure double classroom was funded at a cost of K90, 000 and includes office space, 20 new double school benches, school black boards, a water tank, two pit toilets and two bucket showers for the female students.

Situated along the West Coast of Vanimo in the Vanimo Green District the school is 22 km outside of Vanimo Town. Simola Community Primary School is a Catholic Church agency school and was first established in 1996 as a community school and then elevated to a primary school status in 2007.

The current enrolment at the school is 117 students with a teaching staff of three. The school has 3 classes (Grade 2, Grade 4, and Grade 7) which are accommodated in one double semi-permanent classroom and one single semi permanent classroom which are run down with dirt floors. The Digicel Foundation funded double classroom is their first permanent classroom. The Simola Community, comprising of a population of close to 1,000 people, is very supportive and have funded and built the existing classrooms themselves without any donor funding.

Speaking at the launch, the Head Teacher of Simola Community Primary School, Mrs Sharon Paim said; “This is our first permanent double classroom and our teachers and students can’t wait to start the new school year in their brand new classrooms. Digicel PNG Foundation’s funding of a permanent double classroom is a timely donation for the school, our students and teachers and the community can’t thank you enough.”

The Simola Community Primary School is an outstanding example of community ownership, with community members engaged in building all the classrooms at the school voluntarily.

Marina van der Vlies, CEO of Digicel Foundation said; “We endeavor to target and support communities, such as Simola. We are delighted to support their achievements and commitment through the provision of better resources and school structures such as these double classrooms and we take the opportunity to wish them all the very best for the next academic year.”

To date the Digicel Foundation has funded 131 community based projects covering 20 provinces in PNG and put K8 million back into marginalized PNG communities which has directly impacted more than 100,000 people. The Digicel Foundation plans to continue the funding of community projects in the area of basic education and health aiming to support communities as they become more self-reliant in the future. 

 ENDS