Swimming cchamp talks education

By Clifford Faiparik
Children, regardless of their social and economic standing, should not be denied a basic quality education, Papua New Guinea goldnen boy Ryan pini says.
Pini, who is also the Theodist Stationary Limited Business development Manager, said that on Wednesday during the opening of four classrooms at Laloki secondary school. The classrooms were built at a cost of K600, 000.
Theodist also supplied chairs and tables for the classrooms and Kairuku-Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo commissioned the new classrooms.
“Quality basic education should be allowed to every child. Education should beb available to any children up no matter what their background is or their financial status is,” Pini said.
“We are an organization that loves to support and give back to the community in a positive way and education is a priority, because with education we will have good development progress in the community. We support children on how to get educated so that they can provide a better life. So that’s why we (theodist0 give back to our community in a positive way. And education is a part of what we do at Theodist Stationary which is an important part of our programme.”
He said the donations were a way of giving back to the community.
Pini said that Theodist was an organization that wants to provide an environment to enable children to have a thriving and flourishing education upbringing.
“The trees that you are sitting under and grass that you are sitting on are flourishing because of a good environment with good water supply. Without a good environment they won’t grow and won’t flourish. Just like that, for a child to get quality education, he or she needs to learn in a thriving and flourishing environment,” he said.
Pini also said that he became a champion swimmer because he trained in a thriving and flourishing environment.
“I would like to recall to 2006 which was a memorable year in my life. It is a legacy of mine. I won gold at the Melbourne Commonwealth games and I beat Micael Klim who was world champion at that time. I became champion because I was in a thriving and flourishing environment. I had great people around me, like my family and my coach around me supporting me. I also had swimming pools in Port Moresby and Australia to train in.
Those pools were 15 meters long and the water was warm when it was cold outside.
“These factors gave me the opportunity to be the best and to flourish. So we hope that the new classrooms that the Kairuk-Hiri District Development Authority has built and the decks we (Theodist) help to support, will give you (students) the opportunity to thrive and be positive in your communities. I hope you became a good businessman or woman or became an important member of your community.”