For the first time, a mining company has donated goods to Paparom Primary School in East Sepik Province.
Frieda River Limited, the owner of the upcoming Frieda River copper-gold mine, recently donated stationary supplies and corporate merchandise worth over K5000 ($1892) to the primary school.
The school board and management said the donation marked the first support the school had received from a mining company.
“It’s a lot of goods you have delivered,” Paparom Primary School acting head teacher Eunice Yawi said. “We didn’t expect such donations, and we are very thankful.”
The gesture was made in return for the hospitality and welcome the school and local community provided Frieda River when a helicopter transporting company employees needed to conduct an emergency landing on the school’s playing field.
The school community hosted the visitors and provided refreshments while the helicopter’s issues were resolved. It was then that Frieda River staff learned the school was in need of essential educational materials for students in grades 6, 7 and 8.
Yawi said the donation would firmly establish the Frieda River brand within the school community.
Frieda River’s education support for the Sepik communities includes school fee subsidies for the proposed mine-affected students at the Ambunti and Telefomin secondary schools, as well as transportation to and from the schools and other education institutions at the start and end of each academic year.
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