Miracle Baby Shruti - Vodafone Fiji

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Rheumatic Heart Disease patients appreciate SMS service www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation Vodafone ATH Foundation Deputy Chairman Mr Tomasi Vakatora serves the men The ladies eagerly await lunch A hot meal for the elderly In line with the Vodafone Passion, “Passion for the World Around Us” and misson to make a difference in the lives of communities and people, four members of the Foundation Board and the Foundation Manager visited the Samabula Old Peoples’ Home on July 28th. The Foundation Officials spent the afternoon mingling with the 49 residents and served them a hot home-made lunch of chicken soup, chicken curry and puri, and dessert. While the lunch and the company were warmly received and obviously appreciated by the residents at the Home, the Foundation team seemed to benefit most from the visit. Director Diana Fong relating her experience to Jeevan mentioned, “It was a rewarding experience; it touched my heart to be part of the team that prepared a meal for our elders. We can all contribute in some way to our communities and I’d encourage everyone to do what they can.” Mrs Manorama Singh who enjoyed the preparation that went into the visit said, “it was very satisfying to actually cook and serve the residents of the Home. It’s wonderful to give money, but to actually do the shopping, and the cooking and then the serving…that was really fulfilling. And it was a change from the everyday menu for them.” Mrs. Singh had made contact with the Home earlier in the week and asked the staff to recommend a lunch menu. The Vodafone Foundation team was then assigned certain dishes on the menu to prepare which they all took to the Samabula home. Foundation Manager, Lenora Qereqeretabua said the visit and the activity was a wonderful way of encouraging the spirit of volunteerism amongst Vodafone and ATH staff. In May, a combined effort by the Ministry of Health, the World Heart Federation, and Vodafone Fiji, enabled 30 Rheumatic Heart Disease(RHD) patients to receive free text messages reminding them that they were due for treatment. Reports from the RHD Programme at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva indicate that the text messaging system has had a significantly positive impact on the progress of the RHD Programme in Fiji since its implementation. Programme Assistant, Kavita said the number of patients receiving text messages has increased to 51, with text message reminders sent directly to mobile phones every three and a half weeks. “The reminders sent to those suffering from rheumatic fever (RF) and RHD are to ensure they all turn up for regular Benzathine penicillin injections and a number of people have commended the initiative as it helps them to remember their injections,” she added. The RHD Programme updates the text message and mobile phone numbers every three months. Kavita said the RHD programme will continue to add patients with mobile phones to this service as well as monitor the number of injections received by people who receive the text messages to see if the message service helps to improve treatment compliance. The RHD team in Suva manages a database of all people in Fiji with RF and RHD. The database currently has a total of 876 people in the database from the Central/ Eastern, Western and the Northern divisions.
Chevalier Duck Farm receives a boost A student with the ducklings at Chevalier When the Vodafone ATH Foundation first visited the rambling Chevalier Farm Training Centre at Wainadoi outside Suva, the resilience of the Centre in continuing its teaching programme despite numerous challenges indicated that they were worth supporting. So when the Centre requested assistance for the construction of two duck houses to replace the duck farm which had succumbed to the wear and tear of the elements and the neighbourhood dogs, the much needed assistance was soon on its way. Until two years ago, the farm was renowned for its ducks. “A good day at the market would mean about $350 or $400 for us,” Isaia Natata, the centre’s welding teacher, told Jeevan. “So when the dogs finished the last 60 ducks we had, the centre really felt it. We rely on donors and the duck farm was one of the only other main sources of revenue for us.” The Foundation provided the $15,000 needed for the duck houses and in September, Father Nikora of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart welcomed Foundation officials to the Centre for the opening of the new facility. “These duck houses will now allow us to strengthen a sustainable project that represents for us ways of meeting additional expenses for the centre,’’ Father Nikora said. “Additionally, the project allowed our carpentry students to demonstrate their skills. The project is also an example of what students can do as selfcreated businesses for future employment in the villages.” Speaking to the students at the official opening of the duck houses, Vodafone ATH Foundation manager Lenora Qereqeretabua told the students to be passionate about lessons learnt at the centre. “Learn all you can. I know it’s become a cliché but you are the future and in here, you have a remarkable opportunity.” The centre offers an all-encompassing programme which comprises joinery, welding, mechanics, farm and livestock management courses to an average of 50 young men who study for two years for a certificate. Through the Centre, the young men, mostly school dropouts are given a second chance at school and learning a skill. Students pay $20 a term and practice subsistence farming. The School Principal Supporting Project Heaven Project Heaven staff Arvind Lal Foundation Manager Lenora Qereqeretabua with school principal Saga Dewan For school principal Saga Dewan, who teaches math, technical drawing and woodwork, finding other sources of assistance besides the steady funds from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart is almost a full time job. Mr Dewan is passionate about his work with the boys because they reflect to an extent his personal struggle to acquire his qualifications – his mother struggled to put him and his siblings through school. “I could be getting paid more in another school but to work with these boys makes me happy; makes the work and struggle to look for donors all worthwhile,’’ Mr Dewan said. “Some companies have a list of our students and when they need replacements or new positions come up, they call us. But our students are not given special treatment because they are from here. They are as good and as qualified as any other student from similar schools.” Mr Dewan acknowledged the Foundation’s timely assistance, describing it as a ‘miracle’ as there had been no other expression of interest from all the other organisations and/or individuals approached for assistance. “This centre teaches the boys to create for themselves a meaningful life, a future they can look forward to,’’ he said. “This is a good thing and we must all pray that the centre continues to have the financial and moral support to continue its work for boys whom society has turned its back on. ” A new sight around the country is the new Project Heaven van with the Foundation logo. The Foundation is making $150, 000 available to Project Heaven over three years to ensure it reaches its ongoing target of screening every primary school age child in Fiji for hearing and sight impairment. Last year the organisation reached a milestone with the screening of the 250, 000th child. www.vodafone.com.fj/foundation
Page 1 and 2: official newsletter of the Vodafone
Page 3: Helping to put sight first! Doctors
Page 7 and 8: Meet the Board Name: Diana Fong Wha

Miracle Baby Shruti - Vodafone Fiji

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