June 3rd 2009 - Community Learning center for the Massey Community at Masi Elementary School Goroka EHP

Goroka: The Massey Community in Goroka Eastern Highlands Provinces witnessed and welcomed the launching of the 25th CLC by the Digicel Foundation PNG.

The Digicel  Foundation strives to support projects that provide opportunities that will inspire and build a positive and brighter future for the communities  within PNG. One of  Digicel Foundation’s core beliefs is that as we grow our community should grow with us. The Community Learning Center in Masi Community is the realization of Digicel Foundation to make a difference and play a positive role in the people’s lives in PNG.

The Digicel Foundation heard about Masi Elementary school through, Joeri Kalwij of Monpi Coffee Sustainable services and his partner Michelle the Principal at the Goroka Preparatory School (GPS). Joeri and his partner first learnt about Massey Elementary School through the teachers who were working at GPS who were from Masi community.GPS has now started an outreach program to support other schools that are not so fortunate and need extra school materials such as Massey Pre School. Massey elementary school was started a few years ago and has a total of 60 pre-school and elementary children and two voluntary Teachers.

The Massey community was excited and overwhelmed with the new CLC. They have waited for years for such an improvement to take place to better the lives of their future generations. They have 3 small bush  material classrooms which recently received a second hand tin roof which was a major improvement. With the new CLC in place the children will now have access to a neat and very dry environment for reading and studying purposes. In conjunction with the CLC the GPS has also sent out an invitation to the Massey Elementary School Teachers to attend future workshops which will be hosted by GPS from time to time to enrich their current teaching techniques.

For the Digicel Foundation this is the only beginning as it plans  to roll out at least another 15 CLCs over the next year bringing the total to 40 CLC’s established by the Digicel Foundation nationwide.