Gabagaba Primary School gets double Classroom from Digicel PNG Foundation

Monday 7 November 2015 – Central Province: Nestled deep in the Central Province plains, yet minutes off the Coral Sea is a small school called Gabagaba Primary School. You can see the reach of El Nino in the normally lush surrounds, but nothing was going to dry the enthusiasm of a community keen to launch their Digicel PNG Foundation funded double classroom project.

 This school, which serves the surrounding Deugolo, Tagana, Ginigolo, Gomoro, Gunugau and the large Gabagaba village, was abuzz  for this momentous occasion.

 Gabagaba Primary School was built in 1951, and has seen some of the Nation's leading citizens like Sir Philip Bouraga and the Late Justice Sao Gabi come from such humble beginnings.

 For a decade now, the Gabagaba Primary School has continued to produce outstanding results, making it one of the top five schools in the country, ten years in a row. That's no small feat when you consider the challenges they face every day as a rural community.

 “Digicel PNG Foundation is proud to be an education partner with a school that has pride of place for education. Education is a Game Changer. Nothing is able to give children opportunities like Education can; no one can influence a child like a teacher can and no one can enable a child like a parent can. As citizens, we all have a role to play. This new classroom we funded at the cost of K280,000 provides the environment for our children to grow and learn and achieve their dreams. Amongst this group of children is the next generation of teachers, businessmen, lawyers, doctors and engineers,” said Beatrice Mahuru, CEO of Digicel PNG Foundation.

 When Gabagaba Primary School's four classrooms were burnt to the ground by arsonists, it got the community where it hurt them the most but like the phoenix, they rose from the ashes and the launch of the Double Classroom project has rekindled in students and teachers alike renewed hope and sheer determination.

 Speaking on behalf of Gabagaba Primary School, Mrs Bolena Taugau described Digicel PNG Foundation's timely response as "a godsend".

 “When the Grades 7 and 8 classrooms burnt to the ground in July 2015, our hopes were shaken to the core and fortunately pledges came through from citizens and Government but no one acted as swiftly to our need as Digicel PNG Foundation. As soon as they learnt of our plight, they came and inspected the school, did their assessments, left us application forms and today, we are proud recipients of a solar powered double classroom building with an office space in between, 9000L water tank,  pit latrines and bucket showers - all give to us at no cost. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. You truly are a godsend. We promise to look after this magnificent learning infrastructure for generations to come".

 Iobu Lalaivaina, CEO of the Rigo District Development Authority thanked Digicel PNG Foundation for their generous partnership and for their footprint across the Rigo District, and assured the Gagagaba community that as Government representatives, they too would meet their promise and commence construction for two more classrooms next week.

 Since its establishment on 15 October 2008, Digicel PNG Foundation has reinvested K45million into Papua New Guinea's rural, remote communities, directly impacting more than 400,000 people.

 Digicel PNG Foundation plans to continue funding community projects in the areas of basic education and health with the aim of supporting communities as they become more self-reliant.