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The Foundation for the Education of Needy Children (FENC Fiji) has been launched to facilitate the education of needy children in Fiji.
FENC Board of Trustees chair Lorini Tevi said 1011 needy students from around Fiji have been selected for assistance such as school levies, uniforms, bags, stationery and shoes.
“This is the number we have catered for this batch and we will increase our reach in the next batch,” she said.
Tevi said the next batch will include the maritime provinces which have not been covered during the initial outreach because of the lack of manpower.
While launching FENC at the weekend, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama highlighted the need for everyone to address the issue of poverty together.
“Poverty is a major national problem. It is an issue that should be of grave concern to all and we must reverse the trend of the past three decades of the sharp rise in the incidence of poverty,” he said.
Government has contributed $200,000 to FENC Fiji to enable it to get established and operational.
Bainimarama encouraged individuals and business houses to seize the opportunity and donate to the charitable organisation as any aggregate amount up to $100,000 can be claimed as a deductible expense by the donor.
Tevi could not confirm the exact figure in pledges made but said the number so far was positive and more donors are expected to come forward.
Banimarama kick started the fund with a pledge to contribute $1000 annually until general elections in 2014.
