Walk around Savai’i raises $135,000

Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013

The principal of Don Bosco High School and Vocational centre in Salelologa, Samoa, Fr. Mosese Tui and two Catholic volunteer teachers, Catherine Lutvey and Declan Crowe, have raised $135,000 by walking 182 kilometres around the island of Savai’i.

Catherine said Mosese was concerned that many students were missing out on an education due to poor transport options and he had began a fundraising project to acquire a school bus. “He was sitting around the table having fish and chips in April and thought of the idea to walk around the island, and get some money for a bus,” Catherine said.

“He said, ‘would you help me?’ “It was funny because when we had our formation, we were told that we would go do unexpected things. It’s so true.”

The trip took seven days, and raised $135,000.00, which was short of their goal of $200,000. “A lot came from within Samoa – local businesses, family, and even when we were walking around people would give us money,” Catherine said. Catherine, a primary school teacher from Brisbane, has been volunteering for the Salesians on the island of Savai’i.

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