March 26th 2009 - Digicel Foundation Launches First Two Highlands Mobile Learning Centres

The Digicel PNG Foundation continues its roll out of Mobile Learning Centres with the launch of the first two Centres in the Highlands.

Yesterday saw the launch of the first Mobile Learning Centre at Rabiamul village. This centre will be run by Theresa Goimba, a pediatric nurse who operates a halfway house for abandoned children. The Centre will be used as an after-school centre for the children living in and around Rabiamul village providing them with resources such as books and a secure environment to do their home work. In addition the Centre will be open to the community for skilled based training so that women can learn sewing, cooking and basic business skills.

The second Highlands launch took place today at Beafri village. This centre will be run in partnership with the Christian Revival Crusade Church (CRC), which works with various disadvantaged communities in Hagen. CRC supports these groups with feeding programmes, and provides basic education for children that cannot afford to go to school. Pastor Barnabas Tabara and his wife Rose, along with volunteers from the church, have been working hard for the past 15 years in Hagen city, trying to alleviate urban poverty. Land acquired by the Church in Beafri Village will host the Mobile Learning Centre and other community-based activities. The Centre will be used as a pre-school for children from Beafri and surrounding villages, and will function as a base for the feeding programmes for deprived children from  settlements in Hagen. Furthermore there are plans to use the Centre for HIV Aids awareness training. Both Centres contain a library, stocked with children’s books kindly donated by Hope Wordwide.

Pastor Barnabas Tabara spoke at the Beafri launch today, saying:,
“I would like to thank the Digicel Foundation for partnering with us here in Hagen to help us provide basic services to the people of Beafri Village. It is very encouraging to see a company like Digicel reaching out to the grass roots people to help them grow and strengthen their community through education and skills development.”

The first Mobile Learning Centre for Lae was launched in Bumbu settlement, just one month ago. With the launch of the first two Mobile Learning Centres for Hagen the total number of Centres now established throughout the country is 11. There are currently another 15 second-hand containers under construction, to be ready for launch in Port Moresby, Lae, Mt. Hagen and Goroka, by the end of April.

Reflecting on the Hagen launches, Digicel PNG Foundation CEO Marina van der Vlies said “This is another milestone for the Digicel Foundation. We are very excited about launching the first Mobile Learning Centres in the Highlands. The Digicel Foundation aims to reach out to those communities who don’t have access to basic services such as education for their children. We thank our partners for bringing us to these communities so that we can join hands and provide meaningful services to the people living here”.

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, WeCARe Foundation and City Mission – to get the Mobile Learning Centres to the areas where they are most needed.

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 de 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, Mt. Hagen and Goroka, the Foundation funds elementary and primary schools, for communities that lack good infrastructure.  The Digicel Foundation completed its first school construction project in November last year with the complete rebuilding of Barakau primary and elementary school, located in Central province. The Foundation is currently engaged in another 4 school infrastructure projects through out the country. By improving the learning environment for young children, the Digicel Foundation strives to enhance children’s lives, which in turn will endow them with a positive outlook for their future.