Classroom grant makes ‘significant difference’ in educational opportunities

The FIJI Water Foundation Grant has made a significant difference in the St James Anglican Primary School kindergarten’s ability to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for the students to learn and play.

St James Anglican Primary School head Jessica Murphy noted this after the Levuka-based institution was selected to receive a grant for their kindergarten classroom.

The Foundation had announced on May 16 that it would award grants totalling $1.2million in 2023 to support 281 teachers.

The grants will support classroom projects covering a range of needs from technology upgrades to learning excursions and career readiness equipment.

“The new equipment will not only provide entertainment for the children but also contribute to their physical, social, and emotional development,” Ms Murphy said.

Marie Smith, manager for the FIJI Water Foundation, said: “We are honoured to work with educators across schools in Fiji through one of our most loved incentives, and we hope the grant provides teachers with additional resources they need in time for term two, and beyond.”

The FIJI Water Foundation’s Classroom Grants program is just one way of representing its ongoing commitment to providing enriching educational opportunities for the people of Fiji.

The application deadline for the next classroom grant program is March 2024, and successful applicants will be announced in April 2024.

To be considered for a classroom grant, applicants must be a certified teacher in Fiji.

Applications are not limited to one per school and will be evaluated on a teacher-by-teacher basis across the following categories:

• Learning supplies such as books, science kits, musical instruments, and gardening tools,
• Educational excursions to places like museums and nature preserves,
• Facilities and infrastructure that enrich children’s educational experience, like playground equipment or library seating areas, and
• Technology like laptops, tablets, and projectors.