But the 160 second-hand Balmacewen Intermediate school desks and chairs being loaded into a shipping container yesterday were remarkably free from such things.
They are being sent to Samoa tomorrow, along with about 100 library books and some gymnastics equipment. Otago Girls’ High School has also contributed to the school’s project by adding some tracksuits and sporting equipment to the shipment for schools in the Pacific Island nation to use.
Balmacewen Intermediate principal Andrew Hunter said his school was going through an upgrade of buildings and equipment so a large number of desks and chairs were being replaced.
‘‘We found that we were storing lots of desks and chairs that we had no use for.
‘‘They are between four and seven years old. They’re in second-hand condition, but they’re still in good condition.’’
Mr Hunter said a board of trustees member suggested sending the equipment to Samoa for schools to use there.
The shipping container would be transported to Auckland by Mainfreight tomorrow, and Pacific Forum Line would ship it to Samoa.
Both companies were providing their services free, he said.
‘‘It’s a nice wee project for us, and it was nice to get the support from a couple of companies that are helping us out.
‘‘It teaches the kids that things have a life beyond what they think is useful for us. Things that we take for granted, not everyone else has the benefit of.
‘‘So for us to be able to give away some of this furniture is an easy thing, really.
‘‘It’s good for the kids to know we are a Pacific nation, and if we can help our Pacific partners, that’s good as well.’’
