Australian Defence Force and RFMF Rebuild Namoli Preschool in Labasa
An Australian Defence Force (ADF) team of five, who could not return home due to COVID-19 restrictions, helped out in rebuilding Namoli Kindergarten in Labasa.
The chief guest, during the handing over of the school, ADF Captain Xavier Vasta, said it was an honour to help out Fiji who had earlier helped Australia recover from the bush fires.
He said they had been in Vanua Levu since April 13 to assist the Australian Government’s response to Tropical Yasa and Ana.
“With the department of Foreign Affairs and Trade we came to the North to do some scooping work,” Captain Vasta said.
“They are looking at sponsoring up to nine schools for reconstruction and we assisted by conducting some response to that.”
He said after the work was done, they liaised with the Divisional Education Officer Northern Iliseva Volai and she requested that they rebuild Namoli Kindergarten.
“We were told that the kindergarten was damaged during the two cyclones and for six months the children were without a kindergarten,” he said. “We quickly used the leftover materials and with the help from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF), we managed to rebuild it within four weeks.”
He said this was not just a building repair
“What we have done is an investment for the future of Namoli Village and Fiji,” he said.
“Australia and Fiji are families. “You helped us in our time of need and we have helped you in your time of need.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Volai and the kindergarten manager Jovesa Rokuta thanked ADF and RFMF for their joint effort.
“A very special thank you to ADF for extending their help in rebuilding other damaged schools in Macuata and Bua,” Mrs Volai said.
“The schools rebuilt are state-ofthe-art and when schools resume classes, students will be excited to enter.”