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Community Briefs

MORE HELP FOR CYCLONE PAM VICTIMS

 

In addition to fundraising efforts by BlueSky Communications, volunteers from the local chapter of the American Red Cross are accepting monetary donations for the people of Vanuatu who were affected by Cyclone Pam, regarded as one of the worst natural disasters in the history of the South Pacific island nation.

 

Chairman of the American Samoa Red Cross Vaito’a Hans Langkilde explained that only monetary donations will be accepted, and everything collected will be transmitted to the Red Cross chapter in Vanuatu.

 

Red Cross volunteers will be stationed at different locations across the island: Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. - 2p.m. at KS Mart in Ili’ili and 8 a.m. - 4p.m. at the Fagatogo Marketplace. On Thursdays and Fridays, volunteers will be at the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei from 8 a.m. - 4p.m. and then 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays at the Laufou Shopping Center and Neil’s ACE Home Center in Malaeimi.

 

Throughout the week, volunteers will also be at Cost U Less.

 

DIOCESE OF SAMOA PAGO PAGO HOSTS EDUCATION SUMMIT

 

The 2015 Catholic Education Summit is a two-day event that started yesterday and ends today. The objective, according to the Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago, “is to gain a better understanding of the challenges our Catholic schools are facing, and discuss all stakeholder’s possible contributions to strengthening our Catholic school system.”

 

The summit will provide a means for everyone to develop partnerships through idea sharing, as well as bring together spiritual leaders, parishioners, parents, educators, and youth from the Diocese who have a vested interested in Catholic education.

 

The summit is being held at the Faasao Marist School in Lepuapua and the last day is today, from 8 a.m. - 4p.m.

 

NEW RED CROSS BUILDING

 

The new home for the American Samoa chapter of the Red Cross is almost ready for occupancy. The roof is already up and soon, work will start on the building’s interior. Chairman of the American Samoa Red Cross Vaito’a Hans Langkilde said they are hopeful the building will be ready for move-in sometime in late May or early June.

 

“This is what we are hoping for, but it all depends on things like the weather and the availability of manpower and supplies,” he said.

 

Once complete, half of the structure will house the Red Cross administration personnel while the other half will be reserved as a multi purpose facility. Vaito’a said that the area can be used as a disaster emergency operating center, a training site, or a 24-48 hour emergency shelter.

 

The building is being constructed by skilled volunteer laborers and workers. All the work is being carried out free of charge. In addition, Vaito’a explained, all the equipment is being used at no cost to the Red Cross and the materials have been donated from various sources.

 

“Once the project is complete, we will conduct an evaluation of everything, and come up with a breakdown as far as the value of donated time, help, materials, and equipment,” he added.

 

Before the building project commenced, the American Samoa Red Cross was operating out of a pair of 20-foot containers.