The Ministry of Information, National Archives and Library Services completed a week-long school and community outreach in the Nadroga/Navosa area last week.
Those present at discussion sessions were reminded of Government’s intentions and new approach leading up to elections in 2014. Head teachers of visited schools were appreciative of the approach taken by the Ministry of Information to reach out to schools and the community to inform people of Government's plans.
The National Library Services team were accompanied by National Archives officers, who exhibited achival material, and radio and television support from the Information Services unit of the Ministry of Information.
The community outreach was a response to school requests for library assistance namely books, maps, and posters, among others, and library organisation such as layout and setup. Another objective of the community outreach invloved the documentation of community activities/cultural characteristics of the localities visited. Documentation procedures included interviews, photography, and radio and television recordings.
Achival exhibits included: materials specific to Navosa and samples of archival information accessible at the National Archives in Suva, screening of documentaries on select topics, and the demonstration of book-based skills. The latter was targeted at community empowerment through literacy and skills acquisition to generate income for sustainable development.
Director National Library Services Mrs Sokoveti Tuimoala noted that school reps and members of the public, who attended the community outreach sessions, sought information on Government policies. Mrs Tuimoala said it was also encouraging to see youth groups approach the visiting Ministry team with queries on book-based activities specific to youths.
National Library Services staff were divided into three teams; two teams deployed to visit schools and one team specifically held sessions with women of Naqalimare, Narewa, Nasovotava, Waicoba, and Toga on cooking lessons, tie & dye, and flower arrangements through the guidance of books provided by the National Library Services.
Commenting on the Ministry tour, the principal of Sigatoka Valley Secondary Mrs Lemau Dakuitoga said the discussion sessions were informative.
The following academic institutions were visited: Nokonoko District School, Loma Indian School, Nabaka Primary School, Raunitogo Indian School, Naqalimare District School, Bemana District School, Rukuruku District School, Waicoba District School, Sigatoka Valley Secondary School, Navosa Central College, Nasikawa District School, Noikoro District School, Wayala Seventh Day Adventist School, Natutale Primary School, and Namataku District School.
National Library Services Director Mrs Tuimoala said more schools/communty outreach visits will be scheduled this year.
She agreed that: "We need to go out more for community programmes."