By Peter Douglas
UPWEY High School was proud to host the launch of the ‘Schools Rebuilding Schools’ program on Friday, 7 October.
Students from both Upwey High School and Upwey South Primary School were in attendance to hear program ambassador, Elia Green, launch this new initiative to support education in Fiji.
Green is an Olympic gold medallist in the Women’s Rugby Sevens from the 2016 Rio Olympics.
On 20 February this year, Fiji was devastated by a category five cyclone.
The 330km/h wind gusts destroyed homes, schools, infrastructure and people’s livelihoods.
Thousands of children and families were displaced, while the devastating storm severely damaged education infrastructure.
Many students are now educated in makeshift tents.
But ‘Reach 4 Your Future Foundation’, a Victorian based Australian Charities and not for profit commission educational foundation, has partnered with Fiji’s Ministry of Education to assist in the reinstatement of two totally devastated schools in the islands of Koro and Levuka.
Green said she was proud to help launch the program.
“I was born in Fiji but had the opportunity to grow up in Australia,” she said.
“It is important that we support the people of Fiji in rebuilding their schools and lives.
“This is a great program to show our neighbours in the Pacific that we care.”
The program will connect schools, teachers and students with opportunities to develop ways to link their existing curriculum with principles of global awareness, disaster risk reduction and STEM-based learning initiatives.
Both Upwey High School and Upwey South Primary School have signed up for the program and are keen to begin the work in rebuilding the damaged schools in Fiji.
