Parents encouraged to use Back-To-School Initiative funds for its intended purpose – Deo

The Founder of the Pacific Recycling Foundation Mr. Amitesh Deo has welcomed the Government’s $200 back-to-school initiative for the 2024 academic year, saying it will ease the burdens affecting families of vulnerable and marginalised communities.

Mr. Deo says the initiative will assist these families greatly when sending their children back to school after the long holidays, especially children of Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPR).

He says PRF’s Mapping Exercise of the Waste Collection Sector highlighted the struggles CPRs go through to put food on the table for their families and send their children to school.

“For the majority of these CPRs, collecting recyclables is their main source of income and mostly, they find it very challenging to afford back-to-school supplies, considering the rising costs of goods and services,” said Mr. Deo.

“Our team came across a mother who is a CPR and she shared that at times she would visit the dumpsite just to collect items she felt her child could use in school. She said if her child’s school sandals were damaged, she would go looking for sandals at the dumpsite together with clothes and at times if she was lucky enough, she would find stationery as well.”

Mr. Deo said this should never be the case and that every child deserves new school supplies for every academic year.

The PRF Founder said the back-to-school announcement made by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Hon. Biman Prasad and Minister for Education Hon. Aseri Radrodro for families with a combined income of less than $50,000 is timely and would yet again bring smiles to the faces of both parents and students.

Mr. Deo has encouraged parents to use the funds for its intended purpose.

“Moving forward we urge the Government to consider implementing proper mechanisms that can be used to monitor the use of funds for such initiatives.”

He added that families from vulnerable and marginalised communities would be able to purchase new stationery, uniforms, shoes, and other school supplies for their children.

“Though our children may not express it, a new schoolbag full of exercise books, and other school supplies gives them self-assurance that they can perform well in the classroom,” said Mr. Deo.