15 August 2011

WELLINGTON, New Zealand – Children in rural parts of Fiji will soon be smiling when they receive donated books from New Zealanders. The project, called ‘Books for Fiji,’ is a humanitarian effort organized by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Members of the Church across the lower half of the North Island have launched the project to donate, collect and send children’s books to schools in remote areas of Fiji.

“The donated books will be greatly appreciated by children of rural schools in Fiji where competing demands on limited financial resources often place other education needs ahead of reading books,” according to Her Excellency, Ms Mere Tora, Acting Head of Mission for the Fijian High Commission. “Your generosity will indeed go a long way in creating a love for reading in these children and an awareness of a world outside their own villages.”

Project director Eileen Mueller adds, “Many school facilities and resources have been affected by natural disasters in recent years. Some of these schools have no reading books. The donated books and magazines will establish libraries in schools and give children the opportunity to increase their reading skills and knowledge.”

Local Latter-day Saint leader George Harvey is aiming high. “We have the capacity to send as many as 100,000 books to the children of Fiji, but it depends upon the response from the community,” he said.

To donate books or set up a collection box at your workplace, business, school or community organisation, email booksforfiji@gmail.com or go to the Facebook site NZ Books for Fiji.

Books are being collected in Wanganui, Waiouru, Dannevirke, Palmerston North, Manawatu, Horowhenua, Kapiti, Porirua, Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Wainuiomata and Wellington.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints supports education and literacy as a means to becoming self sufficient. For ideas on how to create an atmosphere for learning in your home, see Helping Children Learn.

ENDS

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