Children at Ahi moe Vunga Kindergarten of Kolomotu’a were happy to receive over $1,000 pa’anga worth of school materials donated by the Tonga-China Student Alumni Association at the LDS Matavaimo’ui Stake Center at Kolomotu’a on Friday, 4 August 2017.

Deputy Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Chen Tie along with the President of the Alumni, Mr Curtis Tu’ihalangingie presented chalks, charts, glue, play dough, learning tools, reading books and coloring pens to the children.

Curtis aid Chinese reading books translated into English were also donated.

The only teacher of the school, ‘Olivia Kavapalu said it was a blessing to receive the learning materials. 

She said 28 students registered at the kindergarten this year but “only 12 came to school today”. 

“The stationery will help us to teach the children better.”

The kindergarten, established in 2016, offers free registration for all kids from any church denomination aged three and four within the Kolomotu’a district. The school has only one volunteer teacher with parents assisting with the children.

Classes are held two days per week between 10am-12pm on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

The Church of the Latter Day Saints have allowed the school to use their church building as their classroom.

President of the Matavaimo’ui LDS, Ian Tu’ihalangingie, representatives from the Chinese embassy along with members of the Tonga China Students Alumni and parents were also present at the event.