Geography students at Fiji LDS Church College wanted to find a school they could “adopt” to provide service to. Their goal was to “put a smile on the faces of children who were badly affected by Category 5 Tropical Cyclone Winston.
They chose the Nasautoka Primary School (NPS) in the province of Tailevu on the east side of Viti Levu Island to be their recipient. The homes and area surrounding the school were destroyed and the school lost the roofs and most of the contents from its buildings.
Geography teacher Flora Dakuiyau said, “We chose to help this school through prayer and seeking inspiration from on high. After our principal encouraged the students to find a school to help, the Lord confirmed in my numerous travels up and down the King’s Road, passing this school, that this was the school.”
What she didn’t know at the time was that every school day, at 11:00 in the morning, the whole school was praying for help.
“No wonder the impression for this particular school was so strong when I travelled past it."
Head teacher, Mrs. Kolinisau, said approximately 90% of the children were badly affected by the cyclone and since then have had difficulty paying attention in class and recovering from their ordeal. “It would be good for them to have some normalcy.”
And that’s what the older students provided. With excitement they carefully planned what they thought would give these young students a day of happiness and also some items to lift their spirits.
The geography students assembled hygiene kits to give to each student with items donated by LDS Charities, an arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A local Church leader also donated clothing to be distributed to the children.
Money raised through a cupcake drive organized to buy t-shirts for the high school students was sacrificed to purchase $300 worth of sports equipment for NPS instead.
The day of the event, the students taught the children cultural dances and played games to help them forget the traumatic events of the cyclone and provide some closure.
Jokapeti, year 5, said, “This is the first time after the cyclone that I saw the whole school so happy!" He was very grateful for the fun day.
Cyclone Winston was the strongest cyclone in the country's recorded history, and Samisoni, year 3, said he had to hide under the table during the height of the storm. On this day, he especially loved the dances and games because “it has been long since we had fun again.”
When Ilisoni, a year 5 student learned what was in the hygiene kit, he excitedly said that he didn't own a toothbrush and looked forward to receiving his.
Mrs. Kolinisau shed tears of gratitude as she described how thoughtful and kind it was for the students from Suva to travel for two hours “just to come and put a smile on their younger brothers and sisters of Nasautoka and to experience what these students go through every school day.
“I am immensely grateful for their sacrifice in order to purchase the balls and items for kindergarten and for their time and effort in putting together the kits. It will bring some normalcy to their lives.”
She was also excited about the new relationship that has been forged with this Suva high school.
Mr. Dreu, the education officer in Nausori was surprised that a secondary school had thought of “coming to put a smile on the faces of the children with their games and dances.” He said it was a first for him.
The Nasautoka Village head man, with tears in his eyes and a voice choked with emotion said (in i’taukei language), “Vinaka vakalevu na nanumi ira na luvei kemami.”
How did the high school students feel about their day?
Miriama, year 13, said, “I feel so happy to see the kids smiling and enjoying themselves. I’m very grateful for the opportunity to help bring back the beautiful smiles on the faces of Heavenly Father’s children.”
“It was a humbling experience to be able to go and serve the little children,” said Tevita, year 12. “Seeing their happy faces was so satisfying and made the trip worthwhile.”
Laisani, year 11, said, “It was faith-promoting to see these people continue to rely on divine intervention for help at a time when they needed help the most. Despite their hardships, the children still smiled.”
Newsroom contributor: Sulueti C Bale Kama