A team of dedicated volunteers in Australia has packed a 40-foot shipping container with building materials destined for Betikama Adventist College, Solomon Islands, to be used in the construction of the school’s new multipurpose hall.
On Tuesday, June 3, around 25 volunteers loaded 10 tonnes of galvanised steel, piping, nuts and bolts into the container in the carpark of Wahroonga Adventist Church (Sydney, NSW). The container will be shipped to the Solomon Islands where construction of Betikama’s new 600-square-metre hall is scheduled to begin in October.
Alongside the building materials, the container also carries electrical supplies donated by Brett and Christine Partridge, and 16 x 15-litre and 15 x 10-litre cans of premium paint from Programmed and Dulux. The paint will be delivered to Atoifi Hospital. In addition, Bristol Paints has contributed 600 litres of paint for use in schools, clinics and churches across the Solomon Islands.
The Betikama Multipurpose Hall is a collaborative initiative between Betikama Adventist College, its alumni and the Solomon Islands Educational Support Team. Together, the college and its alumni have raised over SBD$160,000 towards the building’s foundations and flooring. The project will also involve Year 11 students from Hills Adventist College, who have previously lent their hands to similar builds at Tenakoga Adventist College and the Partridge Multipurpose Centre in Burns Creek.
Under the leadership of Dr Alex Currie and Pastor Ray Eaton, co-leaders of the Solomon Islands Educational Support Team, more than 30 shipping containers—carrying over 520 tonnes of materials—have been sent to the Solomon Islands Mission in Honiara over the past three years. Valued at over AUD$620,000, these shipments bring the total contribution since the initiative began to more than AUD$4.5 million.
These vital resources have supported the growth and development of key Adventist educational institutions, including Kukudu Adventist College, Tenakoga Adventist College, Bekabeka Adventist Community High School, Puzivai High School, Burns Creek Adventist High School, and Kukum Primary and High Schools.
“The Solomon Islands Mission extends heartfelt thanks for this wonderful support towards Adventist education,” a spokesperson said. “Your contribution is a blessing to our students, teachers and schools across the nation.”
By Loanne Liligeto/Ken Long. Original article on Adventist Record.
