They are good Samaritans, but their identities may never be known outside their circle.
They have been paying the school fees of children whose fathers or mothers are in prison.
They have been visiting schools attended by these unfortunate children and paying up outstanding fees, especially those in examinations classes in secondary schools. Where possible, they would meet with the children, to give some encouraging words but insisting that no action should be asked.
The Commissioner of Prisons, Ioane Naivalurua, was made aware of their good deeds but they swiftly intervened to protect their anonymity.
The appellation the ‘the quite Samaritans’ or more precisely, ‘the quiet Babylonians’ would be apt for them. For they are a group of Fiji individuals stationed in Iraq, the modern day Babylon. That is all the information they are willing to concede about their identity.
What started off as a small initiative among a few individuals has grown into an exciting and satisfying project. So far fees of over 20 secondary school children worth over thousands of dollars have been met.
The group is working in cooperation with but outside the Fiji Prisons and Correctional Service.