Filipino Association of PNG donates K5,000 to Tembari children

By ALFREDO P HERNANDEZ
A Friend of Tembari Children
A Friend of Tembari Children

JUST RECENTLY, I received a cheque for K5,000 from the Filipino Association of Papua New Guinea.

Joey Sena, who just concluded his second and last term as FAPNG president, told me his association has been aware of the Tembari Children and of their many needs.

That’s why when FAPNG decided to stage the Hatid-Saya Concert 2010 as a fundraising activity last September, the board did not think twice in naming the Tembari children as one of FAPNG’s two funding beneficiaries.

The other group was the Children’s Ward at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Joey said the donation would help The Center with its daily operating expenses.

In his personal capacity, Joey also helped the Tembari Center in the past with some important donations like Wheelie bins, a product being distributed in the country by his company Universal Ventures Ltd.

A growing settlement-based care group with 114 beneficiary children under its care, The Center needs sustainable funding to carry out vital services like daily feeding activities, preschool education and other incidental expenses.

For about seven months starting March this year, The Center spent an average of K2,500 to K3,000 a month to run its day to day activities.

Of this amount, K1,200 went to the purchase of fresh milk that was served to the children everyday – from Monday to Friday. It was an item that made up the bulk of the monthly expenses.

Another set of monthly milk donation, which came from an executive at RH Group PNG, was served to the children, but only during the four Saturdays of the month.

The money TCC spent during the year came from cash donations from generous benefactors, donors and supporters, who, when they sent the money, said: “This is for your operating expenses …”

Because of such funding, The Center has become well-organized and, thus attaining efficiency, something unheard of from other 15 care groups operating around the National Capital District.

Penny Sagembo, founder of Tembari Children’s Care (TCC) Inc and secretary, expressed gratitude to Joey and his administration for finding merit in helping the Tembari kids.

Penny said a portion of the donation would go towards the building of a new classroom for its growing preschool program, which during the just concluded school year 2010, had 50 pupils.

“A third of our preschoolers (of 15-20 kids) held their class under the mango tree because we got only two classrooms at The Center …” Penny said.

As for me, FAPNG’s timely donation would help us launch The Center’s 2011 activities – all geared up towards enhancing the lives of the Tembari children through better nutrition that would afford them enjoy better health and through sustained education program that would help shape them into becoming better members of the community.

Thanks a million to you, Pareng Joey, and to the Filipino Association of PNG!


Email the writer: alfredophernandez@thenational.com.pg
Jarahdz500@online.net.pg
freddiephernandez@yahoo.com
On Facebook, please search for Alfredo Hernandez for the pictures of Tembari Children