April 2nd 2009 - Mobile Learning Centre for 9 Mile Kukipi Community

Port Moresby: Today the Digicel Foundation launched their 12th Mobile Learning Centre (MLC) in partnership with St Francis of Assisi Catholic in 9 Mile.

The Digicel Foundation strives to support projects that provide opportunities that will inspire and build positive energy in its citizens, which will in turn lead to stronger, self sufficient communities. The Mobile Learning Centre in the 9 Mile Kukipi community is the realization of Digicel Foundation’s vision to make a difference and play a positive role in peoples lives in PNG.

The first settlers of the 9 Mile Kukipi community came in the 1930’s and 40’s as laborers from Kerema,Gulf Province. They have grown into a large community of thousands of people from the Highlands to the coastal areas and are therefore a very mixed community who live together in peace. Just a few years ago the St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in 9 Mile and the community started a pre-school and elementary school since there is no school in the close vicinity for the younger children to go to. The teachers are voluntary teachers form the community. The school has grown rapidly with the 2 years it has been operating and now has an enrollment of 150 children and 4 classes. They started the school using the church building but with the numbers increase they fundraised in order to purchase timbers to build a makeshift classroom beside the church. Their dream is to have a registered elementary and primary school established here on the church land.

Digicel Foundation recognised their need through one of their staff members, Magdeline Kedeck, a customer care agent with Digicel. Her mother is the chairlady of the church and is also involved in the running of the school. The Mobile Learning Centre (MLC) will provide the pre-school grades with a classroom of their own as well as school materials such as a mobile blackboard and slates. The MLC includes a library with 200 books donated by partner Hope Worldwide PNG. The MLC will also be used for adult literacy classes after school hours as many adults in the community are illiterate. There are also plans to use it for skill based training such as cooking and sewing for the mothers.

For the Digicel Foundation this is only the beginning as it plans on rolling out a total of 25 MLC’s in PNG by the end of May 2009. Another 25 MLC’s are planned to be rolled out in the following 12 months bringing the total to 50 MLC’s launched in PNG.