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Heavy rain beat down on the windscreen as we drove carefully up the flooded driveway to Tailevu North College. As we drew closer to the school building the sound of screaming students penetrated our eardrums. The car came to a stop outside the main office building where hundreds of students were standing, jumping and yelling at the top of their voices. They were gathered all around the building and up on the balcony holding hand-made signs of thanks and gratitude. They let out a collective squeal of delight as one of our team members waved back. We knew the school was preparing a ceremony but we weren’t prepared for such an enthusiastic and overwhelming reception as this!
 As the container was unloaded into one of the classrooms our team sat down at the front of the assembly and were formally welcomed and thanked by the staff and students. It was a very humbling experience for all of us as we were treated like honoured guests. Their gratitude was genuine and it really showed on their faces. After a fantastic lunch we were treated to some great entertainment by the students. The meke (Fijian dance) performed by the senior boys was hilarious and had us splitting our sides with laughter.
The happiness and positive attitude of all the students and staff was in complete contrast to the dismal state of the school facilities. The buildings were run-down and some structures were  unfinished. One toilet block with 8 toilets serviced the entire school of about 700 students. The toilets were often blocked and unable to be flushed. Over the course of the next week we visited many different classrooms including those used for the vocational subjects. All of the vocational courses are lacking in equipment and tools required for their focus of study. As a community-run school Tailevu North College does not receive government funding and is owned and managed by the community and families of the students attending the school. Situated in the rural district of Tailevu, the school is attended by students from villages and rural areas all across the region, many of whom walk long distances or catch the often unreliable bus to school.
After the initial excitement of arriving at the school, it was time to get our hands dirty and get down to work. We immediately began work in the library, setting up new shelving to accommodate the thousands of new books. Then the long process of stamping and cataloguing the books began. Sports equipment including rugby balls, soccer balls, drink bottles and a volleyball set from Rebel Sports was handed over to the PEMAC Department (Physical Education, Music, Arts and Crafts) to the delight of the PE teacher and students.  The rest of the equipment including stoves and home economics equipment, tools, stationery, office furniture and computers are in the process of being delivered to the various departments. One of the Shining Light team members remains in Fiji to oversee the delegation of equipment to various departments and specifically to set up the computers for use by the non-vocational students who do not currently have any access the school’s computer room.
Some of the Shining Light team members were given the opportunity to interact with the students through getting involved in various classes and activities. Garry ran a sports clinic teaching the students how to play Australian Rules football and how to kick and handball a Sherrin. Although only 7 of us were able to visit the school in person, all that has been accomplished at Tailevu North College would not have been possible without the people back in Melbourne who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes in administration and organising, collection, packing and transport of supplies as well as those who have donated books, equipment, boxes and finances to support this project.  Thanks to your generosity the lives of students and teachers at Tailevu North College have been changed for the better. |
