Habitat for Humanity Fiji has provided more than 1000 families with emergency shelter-kits in the Northern Division.

The non-profit organisation served 500 families in the Province of Bua last month reaching out to Wainunu, Nadi and Kubulau districts.

They have assisted 700 families from 20 communities in Taveuni Island.

An emergency shelter-kit includes items such as tarpaulins, ropes, buckets, mosquito nets, solar lanterns, spades, hand saw, shovel, machete, binding wire, roofing nails, pinch bar, bending wire, hammer and other small items.

Since cyclone Winston hit Fiji Habitat for Humanity Fiji has reached out to more than 3000 families as a whole with emergency shelter-kits.

This involved distribution of emergency shelter kits in more than 150 communities in Viti Levu, Vanua Levu and Ovalau.

Who are Habitat for Humanity?

Habitat for Humanity Fiji is a non-profit organisation founded in 1991.

It is a member of Habitat for Humanity International (HFHI), founded in 1976 to eliminate poverty housing.

Habitat for Humanity Fiji builds and repairs homes for low-income families and is one of the biggest single entity housing providers in Fiji next to government.

They believe every Fijian family should have access to their basic right to adequate housing in the most practical and cost-effective way.

The Help for Homes initiative

The Fiji Government has established the Help for Homes initiative to help people who have not received help from donors or NGOs.

In a number of villages, Catholic schools have been used as a meeting place for local people to meet the Help for Home teams.

Help for Homes is designed to give affected households the resources they need to rebuild their damaged homes, including roofs, to withstand severe weather events.

Homes that have sustained damage from Cyclone Winston can be issued electronic cards that can be used at selected hardware retailers to purchase materials to rebuild.

Households are eligible to receive assistance if the…

• household has an annual income of $50,000 or less
• home was located in the declared path of Cyclone Winston
• home sustained roofing damage in Cyclone Winston.

The first phase of distribution targeted homes in the declared path of Cyclone Winston.

Homes located outside of the declared path will not be eligible for assistance until the second stage of distribution. Those dates will be announced.

Source

• fijisun.com.fj
• fijitimes.com
• Image: fijisun.com.fj

Archdiocese Catholic education director Pio Bosco said Archbishop Peter Loy Chong changed the duration of the celebration.

Instead of having it in July, the timing of the celebration was also changed to be in the last week in February.

"Archbishop Chong now wishes that Education Sunday in the Fiji Catholic Archdiocese calendar be moved from the month of July to February and March with effect from the 2015 academic year, and celebrated over the period of a week instead of one day," Mr Bosco said.

"The expectation of His Grace Archbishop Chong is for all teachers and children in Catholic schools, together with parishes and Catholic communities, to celebrate this important occasion.

"It is also viewed as an opportune time for Catholic schools to reaffirm their faith and teachings early in the school year."

Mr Bosco said the week-long celebration would also involve parents who would reflect on their roles as the first teachers of the faith and life skills.

"Catholic parents must not relax nor relegate this responsibility to other persons, groups, organisations or governments," he said.

The theme for this year's Catholic Education Week was "Children - Precious Gifts from God".

Students of Catholic schools in Macuata marched through Labasa Town on February 23, to mark the beginning of the week.

Sources

• Fiji Times
• Image: Fiji Live