A former Fiji citizen, Shalendra Sharma, on behalf of 25 families of California provided educational assistance to seven primary schools in Labasa.

Mr Sharma said they had been doing this for 10 years with the support from Narendra Khelawan, ex-Marist Brothers High School teacher, Sachin Sharma former Lautoka resident, Sushil Chand of Carpenters Lubricants, businessman Charan Jeath Singh and his daughter Namrata Singh.

“We have provided educational assistance to Waiqele Primary School, Vunicuicui Primary School, Boubale Primary School, Tabia Primary School, Nagigi Primary School, Korotari Arya Primary School and Coqeloa Primary School within one week,” Mr Sharma said.

“We used to support poor students with tuition fees, but thanks to Government of the day for taking this burden off parents’ shoulders. This has also given us an opportunity to work on providing more stationeries. The handful group of people, who are doing this are the former Fijian citizens residing in California.

“We don’t do any fundraising drive. We simply willingly and voluntarily provide from our pockets. On behalf of the families I am here to visit schools with the supplies.”

Waiqele Primary School headteacher Suresh Chand thanked Mr Sharma and families for their support.

“We received 40 packs of books and gave it to poor and needy students in the school,” Mr Chand said.

The school, which caters for Year One to Eight, has a student roll of 155 students.

Edited by Percy Kean

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