Foundation donates to Koblerville youth center

The Saipan Enrichment Foundation donated a Hewlett Packard all-in-one printer and toner cartridge to the Koblerville Youth Learning Center yesterday. In addition, McDonald’s of Saipan donated a box of Xerox paper for the center.

“We’re so excited and thankful for the Saipan Enrichment Foundation’s donation to the center,” said Shelane Borja, special assistant for the Youth Affairs Office. “We really appreciate it.”

Borja said the Koblerville Youth Learning Center currently does not have any working printers. “This is a very big stepping stone for our office,” she added.

From left, Shelane Borja, special assistant for the Youth Affairs Office; Mable Ayuyu, president for the Saipan Enrichment Foundation; Mary Tenorio, board member for the Saipan Enrichment Foundation; and Gloria Kaipat, administrative assistant for the Koblerville Youth Learning Center. (Contributed Photo)

Mary Tenorio, board member for the Saipan Enrichment Foundation, explained that the foundation’s main goal is to help children throughout the community and the islands.

“We wanted to see what the Youth Center’s needed and lacked. We want to be there to provide assistance by donating things like computers, printers, scanners, etc.,” she said.

Tenorio said this donation is a way to invite and encourage community members to reach out to youth centers because it helps the children.

“We aim to raise awareness about the Youth Learning Centers on Saipan, especially to centers that provide resource assistance to students in low-income neighborhoods,” said Mable Ayuyu, president of the Saipan Enrichment Foundation. “We want community members to know that there are a number of youth centers that need assistance. A printer, for example, is a small thing that can make a difference for the students that visit the center every day to print their homework.”

Ayuyu said there have been a few community partners that have provided to the centers, including the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library and IT&E, to name a few.

When asked why the foundation decided to donate to the youth centers, Ayuyu said, “…Our foundation was formed by the late Honorable Mayor Donald Flores. We want to carry out his dream of giving back to the students in the form of something that is tangible and that will make a direct impact on the children that can benefit from it the most.”

As of this year, there are three active Youth Learning Centers in the villages of Koblerville, Gualo Rai, and Tanapag.

“We are excited to make future donations to the centers,” said Tenorio.

The Saipan Enrichment Foundation thanks FSM Recycling for providing the funds to purchase the donated printer, as well as McDonald’s of Saipan for their generous donation. (SEF)