Inauguration of water system and hand over to the community of Caibada

Monday, January 25, 2016

On 12th December 2015, World Vision's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene II project had the pleasure of welcoming the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, H.E Mr. Taur Matan Ruak, to assist in the inauguration of Caibada community’s water system and official hand over, Baucau Post Administrative, Baucau municipality.

“You, the community, are lucky to be supported by World Vision. Take care and look after the water system because maintenance will be much more difficult if it is not cared for by everybody”, said H.E Mr. Taur Matan Ruak.

Previously, the community of Caibada had to walk one to two kilometres to collect clean water for their daily needs such as cooking, bathing as well as washing dishes and clothes. Now, everything is different. They only need to walk around five to ten meters from their homes to retrieve clean water and only when they need it.

The people of Caibada village, Baucau Municipality were extremely enthusiastic about undertaking the physical work required to build the water system. This includes bringing the pipes, cement, sand, rocks and helping to construct the pipes and public taps. 27 public taps have been constructed close to the community, with each tap being accessed by around ten households.

World Vision Country Director, Samaresh Nayak says, “You bring clean water to the community is not hard work; the hardest thing is guaranteeing the maintenance of the system after hand over. It will continually need up keep from all members of this community, with the same dedication that everyone has exhibited during its construction.”

The project began mid-2014 and was funded by Australian Aid (DFAT) through World Vision Australia. It has so far benefited 2,082 households in Caibada village.

“I’m really happy because we are no longer faced with the difficult task of water collection and finding clean water. We do not walk far at all anymore to fetch water, nor will we have to again,” said Julio, Management Facility Group co-ordinator.