Recycled resources bound for Pacific
Schools
Catholic schools in South Australia have been doing their bit to help under-resourced schools in the South Pacific.

More than 50 schools from Mount Gambier to Yorke Peninsula have generously donated their recycled resources to South Pacific School Aid (SPSA), which is in its 50th year of operation.
The charity is run by a dedicated group of volunteers, including former St John Bosco School teachers Catherine Birchmore and Susan Steer. The Brooklyn Park school was administered by the Salesian Sisters from 1954 until the end of 1996.
Catherine and Susan recently visited the Divine Mercy and St Joseph’s schools in Apia, Samoa, which are run by the Salesian Sisters.

Susan Steer with Sr Sesilia at St Joseph’s Library.
Catherine also visited Timor Leste with the Jesuit Pilgrims 100 group and this resulted in SPSA sending a pallet of books to the Jesuit Teachers College and one of their secondary schools in Dili, as well as some medical books to a Jesuit clinic that visits remote villages.
Catherine said SPSA sent pallets of books to five to seven different Catholic schools every year.
“Nearly every week there is a delivery of excess resources to our warehouse from at least one Catholic school,” she said.
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“We do not receive any outside funding, and our main source of income is from selling books that are not suitable for overseas at several Adelaide weekend markets.
“Last year 66 pallets of books and resources were shipped to overseas schools and universities. Over the years we have supported many Catholic organisations around the world including primary and secondary schools in South Africa, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Timor Leste.
“We welcome any questions regarding potential donations as well as any inquiries about building new partnerships with SPSA to support more Catholic overseas schools or universities, with a shipment of our resources.”
Visit facebook.com/SouthPacificSchoolAid or contact spsa.peter.kirk@gmail.com