Fifteen students from various schools in Lautoka will now begin the school year with smiles after the Lautoka Soroptimist International branch members assisted them with school books and stationery yesterday.

Rangi Devi, parent of Shenal Swasti (Year Five) and Sheetal Shaniga (Year Seven) said she was overwhelmed with the assistance as it came as a big relief for her.

“I am so happy that we received this help,” she said.

“It has been two years we have been receiving this assistance and my kids are fortunate enough to be given this assistance.”

Ms Devi said her husband’s earnings were just enough for her family’s daily expenses.

“My husband is just a school gardener and we really don’t get enough like other families but this assistance is of great help,” she said.

“I am happy that my kids will go to school with smiles and not worry about anything else.”

Lautoka Soroptimist International branch president Zareena Bi said the organisation had been assisting needy kids since its establishment in Lautoka.

“Our club has been inexistence from the past eight years now and this is something we have involved ourselves with,” she said.

“We assist the neediest children in the community and help get them ready before schools actually begin .

“We look at the background they come from and assist them from there. We would want to fulfill our roles in the community,” she said.

Ms Bi said the allocated budget for the donation was around $500.

Soroptimist International is a vibrant, dynamic non-governmental organisation (NGO) comprising of various business women who mostly deal with community work.

The NGO has branches  in  Ba, Labasa, Nadi, Rakiraki, Sigatoka and Suva.

Edited by Filipe Naigulevu

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