Airline gives to Fiji children

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

LOS ANGELES, California – Fiji Airways partnered with Travel2, Tourism Fiji, and the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children in Fiji (FENC Fiji) in a collective effort to give back to Fiji th

LOS ANGELES, California – Fiji Airways partnered with Travel2, Tourism Fiji, and the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children in Fiji (FENC Fiji) in a collective effort to give back to Fiji through the “Travel2 Cares” initiative.

“Travel2 Cares” is a philanthropic program developed to allow members of the travel industry to work together to help fulfill an urgent need for the effective delivery of educational supplies and related support to the children of Fiji.

In support of this initiative, Fiji Airways flew seven Travel2 representatives, one Fiji Airways representative, and two travel agents (randomly selected from all of the travel agents who participated in the drive) to Fiji to personally deliver more than 2,500 items. Deliveries were made to three primary schools in Suva and included school supplies, backpacks, books, and shoes. The items were distributed to a combined total of approximately 1,300 schoolchildren, the majority of whom are raised by grandparents and fall below the poverty line.

Mark Punshon, Vice President of Sales at Travel2, explains, “A growing number of people in Fiji are trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty, and education is the key to breaking this cycle. Nevertheless, education is not always available; and while the government along with various organizations and individuals are making efforts to improve and solve this problem, little has changed.”

According to FENC Fiji, over 10% of Fiji’s children aged 5-14 years do not attend school, and more than 50% of those who complete primary school do not have the ability or the means to attend secondary school.

“Fiji has been good to the travel industry, and it’s time that we reciprocate to show that we care,” continues Punshon.

More than 450 travel agents across the United States and Canada donated items for the “Travel2 Cares” initiative. As a result, Travel2 is now sponsoring the education of five children for one year by covering the cost of their uniforms, shoes, stationary, textbooks, book bags, project expenses and administrative fees.

Please visit www.travel2-us.com/cares to learn more about the initiative and www.fencfiji.com to learn more about FENC Fiji.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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