Vunarei Village in Bigbay Inland has long faced the challenge of ensuring its children can access education. For years, students had to walk over two kilometers each day, crossing rivers and difficult terrain, just to attend school.

Head Elder Maki Moses told VBTC News that the Seventh-day Adventist community recognized the struggle faced by young children and took steps to address it. Last year, they renovated a local building to accommodate six kindergarten students, allowing them to attend classes safely within the village.

“The main purpose is to stop our children from making long walks every morning, especially during rainy periods when the roads are muddy and dangerous,” Elder Moses explained. “By having a school inside the village, children can access education without risking their safety.”

Transportation costs have also been a major challenge for the community. Elder Moses said, “Because of transportation problems, we were unable to establish a proper school. We had to make do with makeshift classrooms using black plastic sheets divided into two sections to teach multiple grades together.”

The community invested over one million Vatu, contributed by village members, to complete proper classrooms with a roof, as well as toilet and bathroom facilities.

Elder Moses shared that the new classrooms, accommodating grades 1 to 5, will officially open this Sunday, marking a significant step in improving educational access