GIVING back to the community, staff members of Public Works Department yesterday sacrificed their afternoon repairing and cleaning a village kindergarten outside Labasa Town.
The workers in Labasa included welders and carpenters who helped repair damaged walls and roof of the Namoli Village kindergarten in Batinikama.
While the carpenters concentrated on the kindergarten, others painted the childrens playing facilities and cleaned the compound shifting logs and rocks to the roadside.
Divisional Engineer Works Isikeli Raratabu said it was the first community project for his team.
"We liaised with the Social Welfare Department to identify for us an area that genuinely needs help.
"We were given a few choices but we chose this village kindergarten because we saw the need that existed so our help to clean the compound and do small repair works on the building will make a difference," Mr Raratabu said.
He said the workers came with their own clean up tools while others used the kindergarten supply.
"Our community work is part of government's initiative in giving back to the community and we have chosen a clean-up program.
"We will organise a second community project this year for our team as it is a good way of helping the public with their needs," Mr Raratabu said.
Kindergarten teacher Akosita Vosiga labelled the help as a sigh of relief for her team.
"We have needed repairs to our building since last year and when the PWD workers came to fix it with no fees charged, we are just grateful to them for their help.
"The compound also needed a good clean-up and the students are lucky to start the next term with a clean surrounding," Mrs Vosiga said.