Digicel responded to an appeal from the headmistress of Hobodeia Primary school to outfit more than 100 hinterland pupils with shoes so that they could get to school safely.
A release from Digicel said that the appeal was made by Vieda Wills after she took the post in May 2013 and saw that all the pupils would come to school barefoot. She explained that apart from hygienic purposes, the shoes would protect the pupils’ feet as many travel to school by boat on the river and by walking along the riverbanks and very often they arrived at school with bites, cuts and other abrasions on their feet.
Digicel’s Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope said that Digicel was committed to fostering development of which education was a priority area for support. It was pleased to donate a pair of shoes to the pupils thereby meeting one of their basic needs.
The Digicel team was overwhelmed by the welcome from teachers and pupils when the boat approached the landing and the gratitude expressed by the excited children when they were fitted for their pair of shoes. Digicel also donated a quantity of books to the school’s library.
Margaret Jardine, senior village councillor added her thanks on behalf of the village captain. Hobodeia is a riverain village on the Aruka River, some 45 minutes from Kumaka (Mabaruma) by boat.
