More than 2,000 students at Tokarara Secondary School now have access to clean, chilled and filtered drinking water following the official handover of new outdoor water fountains funded by BSP.
The K30,000 project, delivered through BSP Financial Group's Retail Strategic Business Unit, addresses a long-standing need at the Port Moresby school, where students and staff previously relied on standard garden taps for their daily water supply.
School Principal James Hape welcomed the initiative, describing it as a major improvement to the school's infrastructure, health and hygiene standards.
"Our students have shown incredible resilience over the years, lining up at basic garden taps just to cool down during hot afternoons," Mr. Hape said.
"These new fountains are a massive step forward for our school's infrastructure, health and hygiene. Seeing our students able to fill their bottles with cold, filtered water will completely change the energy on the students, keeping them focused on class and healthy on the sports field."
The project was led by BSP Retail Transformation Specialist Leroy Edmund, a former Tokarara Secondary School student who said the initiative was especially meaningful to him.
"As a former student, I stood in those same lines at the same water taps. I know firsthand how tough it is to stay focused when it's hot and you can't get a decent drink of cold water," Mr. Edmund said.
"Being able to come back years later and deliver this for the next generation of Tokarara students is a true honour."
The official handover ceremony was attended by school management, teachers, students and BSP representatives led by Group General Manager Retail, Ronesh Dayal.
Mr. Dayal said the project was an investment in the wellbeing and future of the school's students.
"Healthy hydration builds healthy minds, and we are proud to invest in the future leaders sitting here today," he said.
With the fountains now fully operational, the school is expected to benefit from improved access to safe drinking water, supporting student health, wellbeing and learning outcomes while creating a more modern and hygienic campus environment.
