Pioneer Malala secondary students donate food items to Beon inmates

Christmas is a time for giving, reflecting the generosity of God's gift to the world through the birth of His Son Jesus Christ.

Living up to the spirit this Christmas was a group of pioneer students from Madang's Malala Secondary School.

The group donated several cartons of food items to the Beon Correctional Institution for the inmates.

They also made another donation of medical equipment to the Madang Provincial Hospital.

Items donated to the hospital included 20 units each of blood pressure monitor and pulse oximeter, 10 units each of orthoscope and wheelchair, and 250 pieces of Christmas hampers for in- patients.

The hospital donation had cost K41, 100. 00.

The Malala Secondary School pioneer students have formed what they have registered as the Haus Bung Corporation, a vehicle they use to give back to the community.

For today's donation, HBC thanked the Managing Director of the National Fisheries Authority, Justin Ilakini, for chipping in hundred thousand kina [K100, 000].

Ilakini is also a member of the group, and his donation was from his work bonus from this year.

Gaol Commander for Beon CS, Superintendent Jackson Gubag whilst receiving the donation this afternoon expressed heartfelt gratitude to the group; stating their gesture came at a time when the inmates are beginning to run out of rations.

"Thank you for thinking of the inmates during this festive period with the donation. We have not received anything from the government recently, and this donation is very timely," Gubag said.

"Thank you for the initiative that you have come up with after your education at Malala. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge in school and finding a job. What you have done today is real education.

"Knowledge is about being creative like you coming up with such organisations to help other people. No one is an island. This world would be much better if we all have this kind of attitude to help each other."

Superintendent Jackson also took the opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.

Further, he wished them good luck in their future endeavours, adding God will continue to give them more wisdom and knowledge to grow from strength to strength.

HBC President, Bidibud Gemo, on behalf of the group, extended sincere appreciation to NFA's managing director for his generosity in reaching out to the people of Madang during this time.

He said; "We wish to extend our thankyou to Mr Ilakini for the support to us his HBC colleagues in Madang to extend the Christmas joy and peace to those in need."

Gemo said that for this round of donation, "There were two groups. One group went to Beon and the other to the provincial hospital, where they donated vital medical equipment and food hampers for the inpatients."

He also thanked the Madang Police Prosecution team under team leader Sergeant Eugene Wanai for assisting the group with transport to and fro Beon.

Meanwhile, HBC secretary, Gloria Gesa said this is not the first or last donation from the group.

"We will continue to find support to do this in the future, especially during Christmas and New Year. This is how we were at Malala," she said.