The Itu Asau College in Savai'i was recently the recipient of over SAT$23,000 worth of goods, courtesy of the German Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand.

A partnership project called "Laptops for the Computer Lab at Itu Asau College" between the college and the German Embassy was celebrated on Thursday with a ceremony in Asau. 

With the funding assistance from the diplomatic mission, the college is now the recipient of 17 new laptops and two new air conditioning units for the school's computer lab.

A representative of the German Consul’s Office in Samoa, Afoa Stefan Szegedi, said in a statement that they were invited to the college in October this year when they noticed the limited number of laptops for student use.

"As a result through the assistance of the Germany Embassy in Wellington we were able to provide the new laptops and air conditioning units for the computer lab," said Afoa.

"These laptops will hopefully provide the tools necessary for the children to become successful in future.”

The College Principal, So’oalo Rikisone Selulo expressed his appreciation for the project, which has enabled the college to be the recipient of over $23,000 worth of electronic goods. 

“Itu Asau College was not able to have access to a computer lab in the previous years," So’oalo said in a statement. 

"This year, we look at the higher number of students taking computer subjects but the problem is the resources are not there to cater for their needs. 

"Hence we seek assistance from the German Embassy in Wellington and they accepted it. We are so grateful for those people for their generosity. 

"These laptops will definitely add beauty to the newest computer lab we have just completed this year.”

Afoa said the project was made possible with the generous support of Nicole Menzenbach, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in New Zealand.

He also acknowledged Debora Yaakoby from the German Embassy in Wellington for her guidance and assistance with this project. 

Mrs Yaakoby had the opportunity to visit Itu Asau College in October this year to meet with the Principal and saw the computer lab, he said. 

"At this visit we were told by Principal So’oalo that the computer lab desks were produced as part of a project from the students which impressed us.

"It was from this visit we saw that the computer lab had only 3 of laptops for the students to learn. As a result through the assistance of the Germany Embassy in Wellington we were able to secure over $23,000 Samoan Tala.

"This brings us to why we are here at the college which is to hand over to Principal So’oalo the 17 Laptops, two air conditioning units and one printer for the computer lab. Since Christmas is less than 10 days away these resources can be seen as an early Christmas present for the College." 

The German Consul to Samoa, Tagaloa Christa Szegedi, also emphasised the importance of providing assistance towards the education sector of Samoa. 

"At the same time it is also vital that resources are given to the big Island of Savai'i. The children of Savai'i belong and will play a vital role towards the future of Samoa," Tagaloa said. 

To prove Tagaloa’s commitment, the Itu Asau project is now the seventh project in Savai'i since 2019, which the German Consul emphasised will not be the last.

"As you know, in 1914 the German colonization of Samoa came to an end. This however did not stop Germany from continuing to provide assistant and seek greater cooperation with Samoa. The partnership between Itu Asau College and Germany is one of those examples. 

"We also hope what we have archived together can be used as a blueprint of even greater cooperation between Germany and Samoa in the near future, especially as our two countries work together in areas of mutual interest like education, health and climate change."