Education is the key

We believe that education is the key to PNG's future. That is why in 2009 we have expanded our Fuzzy Angel Scholarship program and our School Resource Program to benefit more children, schools, and families across the Kokoda Track catchment area. This year we supported 124 students to go to primary and secondary schools along the Kokoda Track and in the Track catchment area. This is an increase from 35 scholarships in 2008. We support these students with tuition fees, boarding costs, uniform, food, and school resources throughout the year. We use strict selection criteria when selecting our scholarship students including academic merit, gender equality, family need, and background.

This year we also ran our School Resource Program in 23 elementary, primary, and secondary schools located in communities along and around the Kokoda Track. School principals and teachers are empowered to make their own selection of resources that they need and that are culturally appropriate and relevant for the PNG education system. Schools are given an allocation of funding with the largest supplier in the country and the accounts are audited throughout the year.  Schools purchase a range of items including PNG curriculum text books, reading books, and teaching materials, desks, chairs, and blackboards, and general stationary items. Tens of thousands of items have been distributed to our schools this year.