“Every child deserves a Christmas gift,” said PRF Founder Mr. Amitesh Deo.
PRF collected data from various parts of the country where Collection Pillars of Recycling are based, and then coordinated efforts to reach them.
PRF teams visited families in Naria, Maururu, Vunato, Saweni and Kulukulu.
He said some people have been dependent on waste picking as their main source of income for more than 50 years and are faced with enormous challenges that PRF and WRFL are now trying to address with the assistance of other organisations.
Over 200 children around Viti Levu received gifts through Pacific Recycling Foundation and Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited’s 2022 Toys and Stationery Christmas Drive.
PRF partnered with Kokomo Private Island Resort and Vinod Patel & Company Pte Limited to bring smiles to the faces of these children.
The recipients are the children of Collection Pillars of Recycling, formerly known as informal waste pickers who collect recyclables from dumpsites and other places as their main source of income, and most endure difficult and dangerous conditions with little to no protective equipment.
The smiles on the children’s faces were priceless.
It was all smiles and a Christmas to remember for close to 400 children of Maururu and Tauvegavega in Ba and Vunato Settlement in Lautoka after they received Christmas gifts from the Pacific Recycling Foundation during its Annual Christmas Gift and Stationery Drive.
Most recipients are part of PRF and Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited’s wider family as they are the children of Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPR) who are engaged in informal waste-picking.
PRF Founder and WRFL CEO, Mr. Amitesh Deo said seeing the smiles on the Children’s faces was worth it.
“Our Annual Christmas Gift and Stationery Drive began last year, and we will continue to carry this into the future. Every child deserves a Christmas gift, and we are happy to be able to brings smiles to these children’s faces with the support of our partners,” said Mr. Deo.
The PRF Founder said the priceless smiles on the children’s faces would not have been achieved without the support of PRF’s partners who contributed toward their drive:
- French Embassy
- Shop N Save
- Kokomo Island Resort
- Tourism Fiji
- USAID
- FMF
- Pacific Energy
- New Zealand High Commission
- Deltec Electrical
- Vinika Farms
- Bargain Box
- Axial Engineering
- Auto World
- Waste Clear Fiji Pte Limited
- Fiji Development Bank
- Tower Insurance
- Paper and Stationery
- Vivid Media
- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LICI)
- Acura Motors
- Capital Legal
- Several other individuals
“Our partners as well as the PRF and WRFL teams ensured that they bought educational gifts, including stationery materials for children who will be returning to school next year.”
Mr. Deo added that as we prepare for festivities, the Pacific Recycling Foundation calls for mindful choices and urges Fijians to embrace the true essence of gifting while considering the environmental impact this Christmas.
Acknowledging the cultural significance of gifting, PRF underscores the need for meaningful exchanges that minimise environmental harm.
“Let’s prioritise sustainable practices in our gifting choices. This Christmas let’s redefine gifting. It’s about heartfelt gestures that don’t rely on conventional wrapping but carry a deeper significance,” stressed Mr. Deo.
