Sponsor a child program for Fiji

(Monday, January 30, 2006)

A child sponsorship program for Fiji's underprivileged children is being planned.

The proposed project will allow interested people locally or overseas, to fund an underprivileged child's education, and will be a first for Fiji.

The plans were revealed by Social Welfare Ministry chief executive Emele Duituturaga, who said they had even received letters from people overseas who were willing to help unfortunate children go to school.

"We had a lot of email inquiries where people showed interest in sponsoring children to complete their education and thus I'm looking into whether we should have a child sponsorship program and set it out so that those who wanted to help kids go to school may do that but make sure that the money is paid directly to the schools," said Ms Duituturaga.

Fiji Council of Social Services director Hassan Khan said there were still a number of kids who were pushing wheelbarrows at the Suva Bus Stand instead of attending school.

He urged the Education Ministry to find out why there were still some children who were working instead of going to school.

FROM: http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=36080