The second annual Kimaya Brighter Minds Charity Golf Tournament will be held tomorrow at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course in Sigatoka, with funds raised set to support the expansion of the Brighter Minds education program across Fiji.
Organised by the Kimaya Foundation, the event is expected to attract 28 teams from Fiji and overseas, building on the success of last year's inaugural tournament which received strong support from corporate organisations in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand.
Kimaya Foundation Chairman Damend Gounder says funds raised from the first tournament enabled the Foundation to bring overseas experts to Fiji and conduct Train the Trainer programs, benefiting 140 teachers and more than 1,000 students from over 60 schools.
Gounder says the Brighter Minds program has received positive feedback from teachers and parents, with many reporting improvements in student confidence, focus, concentration and classroom participation.
He says this year's fundraising efforts will help train 230 teachers and reach an additional 3,000 children across Fiji. Training for teachers from schools throughout Viti Levu will be conducted from June 17 to 27 by experts from India, where the Brighter Minds program originated in 2014.
The major contributors to the tournament include the Kimaya Group of Companies, Aus Railway and Reddy’s Services, while Fiji Airways is donating major prizes for participants.
Gounder says the Kimaya Group matches every dollar donated by guests and supporters and has already contributed more than $100,000 towards the Brighter Minds initiative since its inception.
The program, which focuses on developing the cognitive, emotional and social potential of children aged between 5 and 15 years, is offered in schools, orphanages and during school holidays.
