The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa praised the contributions made by the staff and students of the University of the South Pacific (USP).

The university yesterday handed Government a USP Flood Appeal Cheque of $5639.96, collected from a flood appeal.

USP, with the assistance of the Campus Life Department, had organised a fund raising event called “Bands by the Bar” to raise funds for flood victims. The fundraising started on May 4.

Mrs Vuniwaqa praised the efforts made by Campus Life which encouraged making contributions to the community at large, especially ,the disaster stricken.

“To have a department within this institution of academic excellence in the South Pacific that actually bolsters students’ contribution to the community is admirable,” said Mrs Vuniwaqa.

“The purpose behind today is to do what you can as a student to support the worthy cause that we, everybody in this nation, try to contribute to post the natural disasters we face.”

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning,Teaching & Student Services), Professor Richard Coll said that USP was conscious of climatic events that affected USP’s member countries.

He said USP had always had a belief of strengthening communities by standing together and this assistance for flood victims was a small way in which USP was reaching out to them. Edited by Percy Kean

sheenam.chandra@fijisun.com.fj