The children of Collection Pillars of Recycling have a little something to look forward to this holiday season as Pacific Recycling Foundation has launched its Annual Christmas Gift and Stationery Drive in partnership with Pacific Energy.
Founder Amitesh Deo says we should not be this broken as a community that some of our children are left without gifts during Christmas.
PRF says their Christmas Drive, which commenced in 2022, was created to fill this gap by bringing happiness to these children with thoughtful gifts and essential school supplies to help them start the new year confidently.
They say in the last two years, they have reached more than 600 children across Fiji, thanks to the kind hearts of the community and partner organisations.
The Foundation says for many children of CPR families, Christmas can be a time of missed opportunities rather than celebration, as their parents strive to make ends meet by working in dumpsites and public spaces.
Deo says this drive is about showing these children that they are seen, valued, and loved.
Deo further says their parents are often the unsung heroes of Fiji’s recycling efforts, working in conditions many would find unimaginable.
He says coming from poverty-stricken communities, these families mostly prioritise essentials like food, leaving little for extras like toys or school supplies.
The Founder says too often, Collection Pillars of Recycling gather items discarded in dumpsites like old toys or worn-out stationery and give these to their children as gifts.
He says through this initiative, they aim to lift that burden, ensuring these parents will not have to resort to thrown-away items to bring a smile to their children’s faces.
Deo says instead, they want to bring dignity to their work and affirm that every child deserves a new, special gift during Christmas.
PRF is inviting businesses, organisations, and individuals to share in the Christmas spirit by contributing gifts and essential stationery items to these children.
Gifts should be child-friendly, avoid violent themes, and ideally be plastic-free to align with PRF's commitment to sustainability.
Gifts can be brought to Malhana Cloud Kitchen Restaurant on Koronivia Road or placed in specially marked boxes at selected Pacific Energy Service Stations.
From 16th to the 20th of December, PRF teams will travel to key locations across Fiji to distribute Christmas hampers, each containing a gift, festive treats, and personalised messages for the children of CPR.
