EXCLUSIVE: WatchGuard Elite 2012 in Fiji doubles as charity event

The WatchGuard A/NZ team and partners.

While security vendor, WatchGuard Technology, used its Elite 2012 event as an opportunity to reward its top channel performers, it also joined forces with attendees to paint a local high school, and donate funds towards the purchase of laptops for students.

Day three of the recent Fiji trip saw WatchGuard and attending partners visit Nadroga Navosa Provincial High School (NNPHS) and donate $2000 worth of paint, and, alongside some boarding students, paint four school buildings.

NNPHS was founded in the early 1900s as a Cuvu Missions Girls School by the Methodist church, and later became a co-ed school in the 1970s. There are currently 203 students enrolled at the school, divided into day scholars and boarders.

NNPHS principal, Apenisa Kurisaqila, repeatedly expressed his gratitude, and a shy group of students sang for the WatchGuard team in appreciation of the gesture.

Kurisaqila also provided an overview of the issues faced by students and the school, the key two being funding and attendance.

Once WatchGuard Australia and New Zealand (A/NZ) regional director, Pat Devlin, heard of the challenges, he, on behalf of the vendor, encouraged partners to donate whatever they could towards the purchase of computers for the school.

NNPHS was in need of FJD7000 to purchase the necessary equipment. WatchGuard and partners donated over FJD4000 while in Fiji, with some late contributions coming in following the conclusion of the trip.

The money is being strictly controlled by Shangri-La Fijian Resort and Spa director of events, Jennifer Grayson, (who is also behind the organisation of the charity event) and has been placed into a CSR WatchGuard account.

Grayson’s next goal is to find a solution to combat the possibility of the devices being stolen or misused once they are purchased. At present, the idea is to secure the computers to desks, or protect them from leaving the school.

Once the WatchGuard team left Fiji, Kurisaqila wrote the following letter:

Bula , The Nadroga Navosa Provincial High School Teachers, Parents and Students as well as the Management would like to thank the WatchGuard group with your Leadership for the great work done to the school last Saturday 10/11/12, on the painting to the 4 classroom building, Library and Science Laboratory.

I met the Assistant Principal the following Monday and he was just surprised to see the new paint and the new look that gives a completely new image and boost to the students. We had assembly and informed the kids about your group and the work done.

The teachers were all excited and happy to see the new look.

Again, Thank You so much and we pray that God Almighty will bless your organisation and endeavour.

To ALL the members who were in the school that day VINAKA VAKALEVU.

Apenisa Kurisaqila

SEE ALSO: WatchGuard rewards top partners with Fiji (+ 50 photos)

SEE ALSO: WatchGuard Elite 2012 Fiji gala dinner, recreation (+ 50 photos)

SEE ALSO: WatchGuard focusing on guiding partners to service delivery model

Nermin Bajric attended WatchGuard Elite 2012 as a guest of WatchGuard.

Follow Nermin Bajric on Twitter: @nermin_au

Register now for the ARN Security Forum 2013 on June 4 at the Sydney Mint

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