Friday, February 6, 2009 – Port Moresby: Vulnerable children at 8 Mile received a special Back-to-School treat from Digicel, as volunteers visited the Enei Monou Pre-school & Literacy Centre, to distribute school materials.

The visit comes after the Digicel PNG Foundation launched its first Mobile Learning Centre in 8 Mile on October 15, 2008. The Enei Monou pre-school was set up by the 8 Mile community in partnership with NGO World Vision. Recognising the need to ensure the sustainability of education in this neglected community, the Digicel Foundation provided 8 Mile with the first Mobile Learning Centre to be rolled out in PNG. Since the launch the pre-school has grown rapidly and has already enrolled nearly 200 children between 2 and 11 years of age. World Vision has helped train 5 teachers to provide for quality education for these eager young learners.

Digicel staff do their bit to help marginalized communities, in collaboration with the Foundation. Digicel PNG Foundation CEO Marina van der Vlies explained -
“The Digicel Foundation involves its staff, on a voluntary basis, in the Foundation’s community projects. The Digicel Foundation Volunteer Programme, for example, is set up so that Digicel staff are given the opportunity to help out and get involved with their communities, and can give something back to these often disadvantaged areas in their own way.”

Basic learning facilities have been sadly absent from 8 Mile, with the only primary school in the area, Moitaka Primary School, having to close its doors some year ago, to the more than 500 children attending, due to landowner issues. Therefore, one of the key attractions at the Mobile Learning Centre are the children’s books being provided through the Digicel volunteer network, Hope Worldwide and the Port Moresby Rotary Club. A rotational book system has been set up to ensure that each Mobile Learning Centre gets fresh books on a regular basis. Digicel volunteers will ensure that the books are rotated between the Mobile Learning Centres in POM. They will also provide for fun activities with the children such as reading, arts and sports. POM Rotary has kindly donated 800 Rotary Against Malaria colouring books and pencils for the Mobile Learning Centres.

8 Mile Community leader Roy expressed his gratitude: “This has been a dream come true for us. We are overwhelmed by the continuing support we are receiving from Digicel Foundation. This gives our children and the 8 Mile community at large hope for the future.”

Digicel Foundation Chairman, Peter Aitsi said: The Digicel Foundation acknowledges hard working communities that help themselves to develop even in the most harsh living environments often being deprived of the most basic services such as health and education. We congratulate the 8 Mile community and our partners World Vision for their achievements in setting up a community run school and will continue supporting these efforts.”

The Mobile Learning Centres are generally used as a pre-school, library, resource centre and community learning centre for various kinds of training such as adult literacy, skilled-based training, cooking and sewing for women, and HIV/AIDS awareness. Between October and December of last year 7 Mobile Learning Centres were rolled out in Port Moresby (8 Mile, Moitaka, Badili, 6 Mile, 9 Mile, DahCavill Customary School in Laloki and Morata). Another 5 are under construction for POM and an additional 13 are being constructed in Lae and Mt Hagen, as the Mobile Learning Centre concept is rolled out across these regions.

The Foundation is working closely with several non-government organisations and churches – World Vision Pacific Development Group (PDG), Hope Worldwide PNG, Four Square Church, City Mission, Gateway Church and WeCARe Foundation – to get the Mobile Learning Centres to the areas where they are most needed. The churches and NGO’s will also be responsible for the operations of the Mobile Learning Centre by helping with pre-school teacher training, skills training, adult literacy classes and any other areas of support that have been identified within the community.

The Department for Community Development is also closely involved in this project. The Mobile Learning Centres will form a basis for the implementation of the new Integrated Community Development policy whereby the Mobile Learning Centres can be used to help strengthen communities from the “inside out” with some support from the “outside” depending on the needs of that community.

As well as rolling-out Mobile Learning Centres in POM, Lae and Mt. Hagen, the Foundation funds elementary and primary schools, in locations that are seeking to overcome poor infrastructure. The Digicel Foundation completed its first school infrastructure project in November last year with the complete reconstruction of the Barakau primary and elementary school, in Central province. The Foundation is currently engaged in another 4 school infrastructure projects throughout the country. In focusing on improving the learning environment for young children the Digicel Foundation strives to enhance children’s lives, giving them a positive outlook for their future.