Tsunami kids to feel like Kings

Boys from King's School in Remuera move out their old desks. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Hundreds of eager helpers aged from 5 to 13 years packed more than 500 much needed desks and chairs ready to ship to tsunami-affected villages in Samoa.

Each student from King's School attached a personal letter of friendship to his desk, then added a T-shirt, book and pencils.

Nine-year-old Nicholas Johnson said the whole day had been exciting.

"It's really cool we can give the desks to someone who needs them instead of just throwing them away."

In his personal note, Nicholas wanted to tell the new owner of his desk something about himself.

He included a photograph and wrote about his favourite subjects and hobbies.

The desks and chairs will soon be on their way to Falese'ela and Safato'a Schools on the southwest coast of Samoa.

These schools serve six local villages that were affected by the tsunami.

Year 3 teacher Susan UNasa is Samoan and has links to the schools.

Her son is a King's old boy and both his grandfather and great-grandfather donated land to the schools in Samoa.

Mrs UNasa said King's was buying new desks and was already looking at donating the old furniture to a Pacific Island school.

King's arranged with Furnware, the company supplying the school's new furniture, to have the old desks shipped over to Samoa.

Mrs UNasa's pupils were sending a joint letter saying they hoped the students would enjoy using the desks as much as they had.

"It's wonderful that the boys can see first-hand the gifts they are giving."

She said the school in Samoa had only just found out about the donation and it was ecstatic.

The schools have no desks or chairs and lessons are held on a mat on a concrete floor.

Ben Ganley, 13, said the whole school made the decision to send the furniture.

"The school is so excited."

Paul Meech, 13, wanted to help because he has friends from the Pacific.

"It's quite a close country and some of the students here are Samoan."

King's headmaster Tony Sissons said the school was always looking for new ways to involve the students in charity in a meaningful way.

"The boys' desks are personal to each boy and they have really embraced the concept of handing them on to other children who will sit in class at them just as they have before."

The container will arrive in Apia in two weeks and Mrs UNasa will be there to oversee the desks' distribution.