Project 2009

In 2009 PFG raised funds for the construction of two school classrooms in the Solomon Islands. The Solomon Islands are a remote group of islands in the Pacific that have been affected by civil unrest in previous years. Education is a major issue that needs to be addressed as most people have attended only primary school. Issues such as poverty, lack of places for students and distances from schools are the causes of this. Pain For Gain will be provide funds to build new classrooms in Betivatu School and the B.A.S.E. Centre so that the people of the Solomons can have decent education.

Betivatu School

This is a pretty school situated on the bank of a river. Betivatuis an hour drive from Honiara, the last 40 minutes is on a rough road plus a river crossing. It has 122 secondary students and 278 primary students. It currently turns away 50-80 students a year because they are already full. These students who cant get in have to catch the bus to Honiara each day (it’s a 2 hour walk to the main road where you can get a bus) so most don’t go.

Pain For Gain has raised funds to build Betivatu School a brand spanking new classroom. The people of Betivatu village will provide the labour to construct it at no cost – that’s how much they want a new classroom. And the cost for constructing a new classroom?Only Sol$33,413 (approximately US$4500 or AUD$5300).

B.A.S.E. Centre

B.A.S.E. stands for Basic Adult Self Education and it is run by Father Niall, an Irish priest and Sister Maureen, a kiwi nun. Lovely people and they are working so hard. The idea behind it is to teach reading to illiterate adults and drop outs from schools. There is a lot of demand for this and they have to turn down students every month.

The currently have courses running successfully in two villages and now want to expand it to a third. A teacher is ready to teach and the school books are on the way. All they need is a classroom. And for Sol$35,000 (US$4500 or AUD$5400) they will be able to build one.