In a touching show of international cooperation, Lifeline Community Service, a charity once based in the conflict-affected city of Belfast, Northern Ireland, played a vital role in supporting the educational needs of students at Lelean Memorial School in Nausori during the 1980s.
On August 24, 1984, The Fiji Times featured an article highlighting the generous efforts of this charitable organization. For over two decades, Lifeline raised funds through various initiatives, notably baking and selling an impressive 1,600 cakes.
Rob Pattison, a devoted science teacher at Lelean Memorial, expressed his appreciation for Lifeline’s continuous support, stressing the significant impact their contributions have had. “The help they’ve extended to their community resonates deeply with us here in Fiji,” Mr. Pattison remarked.
Originating at Portadown College in Belfast, Lifeline primarily focused on assisting victims of the local conflict. The article noted that despite their own challenges, Lifeline reached out across the globe, embodying a commitment to global citizenship and educational support.
At that time, Fiji’s High Commissioner to Great Britain, Ratu Josua Toganivalu, visited Portadown College to personally express Lelean’s gratitude for Lifeline’s work. During his visit, he presented a traditional piece of masi cloth as a gesture of thanks from the students at Lelean. In return, he was given a school plaque, symbolizing the friendship and solidarity between the two institutions.
The visit was particularly memorable when Ratu Josua was surprised with a traditional Fijian song, which was organized by Jennifer Douglas, a teacher at Portadown College, who had arranged for students to learn and perform the song in honor of their Fijian peers.
Lifeline’s contributions significantly improved educational resources at the Davuilevu school, providing funds for subscriptions to magazines, calculators, and books about computers. Inspired by an article written by Mr. Pattison in an international teachers’ magazine, Lifeline’s students began their own fundraising initiatives to address specific needs identified at Lelean, especially in the field of science education.
“The initial donation came from their collective effort in baking and selling cakes,” Mr. Pattison noted. They have since organized several fundraising activities, including an upcoming walk-a-thon, to continue their support for the school.