U.S. Embassy pursues educational mission

07 April 2017, 12:00AM

Lepea Primary School was presented with over 600 reading and reference books yesterday.

The donation marks the first of the U.S. Embassy’s ‘Faitau = Atamai’ book drive for 2017. Working to help facilitate the project is the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture, the Rotary Club of Apia, and Peace Corps.  

Their collaborating efforts this year will enable nearly fifty schools around both islands to receive over 25,000 books.  

This programme builds on the U.S. Embassy’s mission goal of promoting educational opportunities for Samoan students and developing linkages between the United States and Samoa through the provision of educational resources as well as providing capacity building opportunities. 

The objective of the book drive is to provide additional resources for educators, families and students who need them the most.  

 “I’d like to acknowledge the presence of our project partners, for without their kind assistance, this would not be possible,” said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Angelina Wilkinson.  

“Firstly, these books come from our stateside partner the Brother’s Brother Foundation, who have now, in total, donated nearly 35,000 books to Samoa over the last two years.  

“I would like to acknowledge the kind financial support of Brother’s Brother, as well as all of the Good Samaritans in the U.S. whose financial donations cover the cost of shipping these books all the way from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Samoa. 

“We thank the Ministry of Education for their support of this project in terms of getting the donation here to Samoa and identifying schools in need of books.  

“We would also like to thank the Rotary Club of Apia, for their invaluable assistance in storing, sorting, and delivering all of these books to nearly 50 schools across the country, and thanks to our Peace Corps program, the end users, who will be helping teachers and students to utilize these resources in the classroom.  

“I also understand that you have a Peace Corps volunteer teaching at your school this year.  I hope you have found her efforts helpful and enlightening for your students.”

07 April 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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