The Robert Louis Stevenson secondary and primary schools have collected more than $4,500 amidst other material gifts for the people of the Kingdom of Tonga.

Vice Principal of the Primary School, Pricilla Betham, said this was a common initiative by the school when other Pacific islands were facing disasters and in need of relief assistance.

"Parents would often bring sheets, clothes and things like that but we also encourage them to donate money for the purpose of helping the families," she said. 

"We have Tongan students, half-Tongan students, and other Pacific island students. We do fundraise for disasters such like tsunamis and so forth for other islands.

" Whatever happens to our Pacific families we try to help and we pray for them. They are in our hearts."

Of the money raised by the children, she said: "We raised 3000 in the primary school and we are waiting for the secondary school to bring theirs in. The joint venture will have our prefects present the money and gifts to the Red Cross, for the kingdom of Tonga."

Ms. Betham alluded to the fact that the primary school donation is quite high considering their previous muftis, but it is a sign that the parents are very moved to help Tonga because it not only had a volcano explosion, it was impacted by ash and a tsunami and then followed by COVID-19 positive cases.

The Vice Principal also said that two of their students went back to Tonga last year with their families. 

"We remember them also in their plight, so we send our hearts and love to their families there," she said.

" We are praying for Tonga and also all the other Pacific islands as well." 

The vice principal of the secondary school Masa Faasau affirmed Ms Betham's claims on helping other islands. 

"We did a fundraiser for Vanuatu before. Many of our students come from other Pacific islands too. Today's mufti is to wear the color of Tonga which is red. We have a lot of Tongan students," she said.

Masa said that the secondary school donated $1500 which will go along the with the primary school's donation. 

" Through the fundraising, the children and the schools sends their love and prayers for the people of Tonga," she said.