Hundreds of Fijians living at the Jittu Estate informal settlement in Suva received help in the form of bales of clothes and food on October 20.
The donation from the Pacific Theological College is part of its aim of addressing social injustices like poverty in its curriculum.
It aligns with the PTC Strategic Plan 2020-2025 of ‘Towards Excellence in Theological Education for Leadership for Justice.’
It is a plan to provide for Pacific churches and the region, leaders who are not only priests and theologians, but also prophets and advocators of justice.
Jittu Estate Welfare Officer Sitiveni Ravatu applauded the donation as tremendous. “We have families who don’t have food to eat right now,” said Mr Ravatu.
PTC Community also gave the Vunilagi Book Club (VBC) boxes of children’s books. VBC is based out of the Vatuwaqa informal settlement.
The Club works with informal communities in Suva to improve children’s reading skills. Club director Mariana Waqa said reading impacts a child’s development. It stimulates their imagination and develops communication and social skill essential for life.
PTC set up a Committee to coordinate the donation drive over several weeks.
PTC identifies poverty as a social and economic injustice that causes widespread suffering.
In offering a helping hand, the PTC community hopes to give hope and build solidarity with those who struggle 
to make ends meet.
The donation also marked International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
At least a quarter of Pacific Islanders suffer every day in poverty-stricken situations.
In 2019, the United Nations High-Level Political Forum heard, a quarter of Pacific Islanders live below basic needs poverty lines. They struggle to make ends meet. Unemployment among women and youth is exceptionally high, and so are non-communicable diseases.
For example, in Fiji, 200,000 people live in poverty at 200 squatter settlements.
PTC identifies poverty as a social and economic injustice that causes widespread suffering.
In offering a helping hand, the PTC community hopes to give hope and build solidarity with those who struggle to make ends meet.
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