More than a hundred students from Auala Primary School in Savai'i will benefit from a project to improve their learning environment thanks to Germany's Embassy in Samoa.

A ceremony to launch the “Improvement at Auala Primary School with the support of Germany” project was held on Friday.

Present was the German Consul to Samoa, Tagaloa Christa Szegedi, Associate Minister of Ministry of Works, Transport and Infrastructure and Member of Parliament for Vaisigano NO. 1, Niuava Eti Malolo among other guests.

The German Embassy in Wellington contributed over SAT $21,000 worth of floor tiles, wash sinks and five new laptops for the computer lab. 

Also part of the ceremony, the Lodge Calliope 252 presented over a 100 new shoes for all the students from Auala Primary School.  

A representative of the German Consul’s office in Samoa, Stefan Szegedi said that COVID-19 has brought about many challenges and disruptions to the education sector of Samoa.

“As a result with the support of the Government of Germany we all must work closer together and provide assistance to schools like Auala Primary School so that we can overcome whatever challenges COVID-19 puts in our way,” he said.

The Associate Minister of M.W.T.I. expressed his sincere appreciation for the project.

“We are so blessed to have people that willing to donate for the improvement of our school environment,” he said.  

“We do believe that putting in the right facilities that give pupils every opportunity to learn is one of the key pillars that determine success.”

Niuava said upgrading  the infrastructure through a refurbishment can utterly transform a space, whether that’s putting energy efficient cladding on the outside walls or developing new learning areas that energise both staff and students.

According to the Principal of Auala Primary School, Va Pauulu, the school has a total of 112 students.

“Our school cannot afford tilling the school building, buying new laptops as well as shoes for the students due to a lack of finance,” she said.

“With this project, the German Embassy in Wellington has fulfilled my dream especially with materials like the laptops which will make our teaching easier.

“Today [Friday] is a celebration of our dreams and accepting these wonderful gifts we have received.”

She thanked the German Embassy in Wellington for the materials and also acknowledged the Lodge Calliope 252 for the donation of shoes.

Mr. Szegedi also said that this project was made possible with the generous support from His Excellency Stefan Krawielicki the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in New Zealand.

“I also want to acknowledge Wera Hack and Debora Yaakobi from the Embassy in Wellington for their guidance and assistance with this project.

“We also hope what we have archived together today can be used as a blueprint of even greater cooperation between Germany and Samoa in the near future.  

“The partnership will not end today, but will continue for many more years to come.”