TONGA'S centre for the disabled, the 'Ofa Tui mo e 'Amanaki Centre, has received a helping hand with maintenance from civil servants and church officers who are learning management skills in an eight weeks course organised by the Tonga Defence Service.

A General Management Course run by the Tonga Defence Services and funded by the Australian Defence Force is the fifth such course to carry out community projects.

This year's course began in August with 12 participants from the Tonga Defence, Police, Prisons and government departments. As a part of their training in management they were provided with funding of AUD$2,000 to implement a "helping hand" project in the community.

'Olivia Lafitani said they had to identify a place for the project and, their hearts were stolen by the children at the disability centre, where they realised how important and urgent their needs were in regards to drinking water and providing a safe roof over their heads.

The project bought a new stove and refrigerator for the centre's kitchen, fixed a leaking roof and water tank and repaired eroded timber on the entrance at the centre.

100 Disabled children

The Secretary General of the Tonga Red Cross Sione Taumoefolau said they were very pleased with the project because in the last few years they had problems with drinking water and leaking roofs that they could not afford to fix.

The maintenance work done by the General Management had enabled them to provide a better service and care for the 100 disabled children who come to the centre daily for an education and exercise activities.

Second Lt Fuatapu Halangahu told Matangi Tonga, that the course was teaching participants how to manage a particular funded project in order to make it successful.

The participants were 'Akanete Tupou, Catholic Diocese Tonga; Robyn Kaho, Prime Minister's Office; Nixon Tafa, Ministry of Police; Siosefa Mahe Tonga, Prison Department; Rev Manase Mavae Fonokalafi, SUTT; 'Olivia Lafitani, Ministry of Finance and Planning; 2nd Lt Fuatapu Halangahu, Siutaka Vi, Siale Motekai Manu, Taniela Songo'imoli, Laumanu Uasike and Timote Taufo'ou of the Tonga Defence Services.

Present at the completion of the course was TDS Commander Brigadier Tau'aika 'Uta'atu, the Acting Australian High Commissioner Carole Gransbury and the Superintendent of Prisons Sione Falemanu and instructor Russel MacAndrew.

The course was first conducted in 2000. Last year the course helped the Alonga Centre.