Suva, 28th December 2022: It was a Christmas to remember for 95 children of Rakiraki, Ba, Lautoka, Sigatoka and Suva after they received gifts through joint efforts of Pacific Recycling Foundation (PRF), Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited (WRFL) and Vinod Patel & Company Pte Limited (Vinod Patel).
The recipients are the children of Collection Pillars of Recycling (CPR), formerly known as informal waste pickers who collect recyclables from dumpsites and other places as their main source of income, and most endure difficult and dangerous conditions with little to no protective equipment.
Vinod Patel Home & Building CEO Mr Rahul Amin said that the Annual Toy & Stationery Drive has been a special longstanding initiative of the Company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program; spanning over a decade. “Every year all employees across all our branches contribute, wrap and label gifts before distributing these in orphanages, hospitals etc. This year we are grateful and excited to widen our reach by adding another partner through Waste Recyclers Fiji”.
PRF’s Founder and CEO of WRFL, Mr. Amitesh Deo said this was the second round of gift drive following last week’s event in Vunato, Lautoka where over 100 children received Christmas gifts. “The smiles on the childrens’ faces were priceless. Every child deserves a Christmas gift,” said Mr. Deo. He said the PRF and WRFL teams collected data from various parts of the country where Collection Pillars of Recycling are based, and then coordinated efforts to reach them.
“Some CPRs live in very remote areas and go through daily unimaginable struggles to meet their day-to-day needs. We visited families in Naria, Maururu, Saweni and Kulukulu,” said Mr. Deo.
He said some people have been dependent on waste picking as their main source of income for more than 50 years and are faced with enormous challenges that PRF and WRFL is now trying to address with the assistance of other organisations.
Mr. Deo also said he was extremely thankful to Vinod Patel for directing gifts from their internal Christmas toy & stationery drive to PRF/WRFL.
Ms Latileta Qoro, GM – Group ESG said “This partnership for Central & West provides great synergy. While continuing our social agenda and reminding children that they are special and loved, the great work that WRFL and Collection Pillars do is well aligned with the Company’s recently endorsed ESG and environmental sustainability agenda. Vinod Patel also distributed gifts to Dilkusha Home in Nausori, the Taveuni Hospital Children’s Ward and Treasure House Children’s Home in Nadi.
Photos courtesy of: Vinod Patel & Company Pte Limited Branches, Pacific Recyclers Foundation.
