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children waiting for a classroom February 2022
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Children in "Classroom" February 2022
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A classroom in Lese Oalai
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Section of the row of classrooms at Lese Oalai
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LO school girls pit toilets for 1,000 students
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Accessing the school site was difficult in the wet
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In two weeks RAWCS team + locals were smoking!
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After 39 days, the handicapped toilet was complete
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shells of 22 composting toilets complete @ 39 days
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Ned teaches, supervises, and mentors,not builds
| Summary: | The Lese Oalai Junior School in the Gulf Province of Papua New Guinea provides early education for children from Prep to Grade 3. More than 500 children currently attend, and enrolment is expected to grow. Literacy rates in the Gulf Province remain extremely low at just 4.1%, making early education critical for the future of the community.
The school buildings are now derelict and unsafe. Repeated flooding from the Owen Stanley Ranges has further damaged the structures, leaving classrooms unusable. The Rotary Clubs of Torquay (D9780) and Boroko (D9620), together with RARE (Geelong), the Peter Nathan Loko Foundation, the Rotary Club of Bayside Geelong, and the PNG Gulf Association of Queensland, are working in partnership to rebuild the school and restore access to safe, quality education. |
| Challenge: | The entire school complex requires reconstruction, and the teacher accommodation must be refurbished to attract and retain staff. The estimated cost of materials is AUD $1,500,000.
The original pit toilets posed serious health risks, contributing to water borne diseases, foul odours, and a lack of privacy. Girls often stopped attending school once they reached puberty. Heavy rains washed tadpoles and worms across the grounds, and during dry periods the stench was so severe that the school was forced to close.
There was no power nor water supplied to the school or the village. There was no functioning library, the aid post is still derelict, and the lack of teacher housing makes recruitment extremely difficult. |
| Solution: | The community has sought government support to rebuild the school, but no assistance has been forthcoming. The villagers were willing to construct the buildings themselves but could not afford the materials.
A major first step was achieved through a Rotary Foundation Global Grant (2239706, USD $87,000) secured with the Rotary Club of Manly (D9685), with the support of 5 Rotary Districts and 10 Rotary Clubs. This enabled the replacement of the pit toilets with 22 waterless composting toilets, including separate facilities for boys, girls, and children with disabilities.
In July 2024, a RAWCS team supervised, trained and mentored local artisans. During this period, the platforms for all toilets were constructed. The local teams completed the remaining construction in the next 4 months. |
| Long term impact: | The toilet program is only the beginning. The broader redevelopment plan includes:
1.Library: A shipping container is being converted into a library.
2.Aid Post: The derelict aid post will be rebuilt to cope with high rates of preventable illnesses.
3.Power Supply: Solar systems have been purchased.
4.Malaria Program: A partnership being developed with ARAM PNG.
5.Water Supply: Drilling a bore to supply water.
6.Teacher Accommodation: Rebuilding teacher housing is essential to attract qualified staff.
7.Girls' Education & Skills Training: Run Days for Girls education and community skills programs.
8.Classrooms: 14 new classrooms will be constructed.
Long term goal to lift literacy rates, expand educational opportunity, and give the children of Lese Oalai the skills they need. |
| Sponsored by: | Rotary Club of Torquay, District 9780 |
| Endorsed by: | Rotary Club of Boroko, District 9620 |
| Other Partners: | Peter Nathan Loko Foundation,
Rotary Club of Bayside Geelong (District 9780),
Papua New Guinea Gulf Association of Queensland,
Rotary Club of Manly NSW (District 9685). |