Clean water means a brighter, healthier future for children

Water is one of nature's most important gifts to mankind and essential to good health.

For mother of five, Emma Noel, aged 35, the best gift for her children to celebrate Vanuatu Children’s Day is clean water on her door step.

Emma’s husband Noel often travels to New Zealand to work under the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme at which time Emma has sole responsibility for their children.

The family lives in the peri urban community, Blacksands, a 15 minute drive from Port Vila, Vanuatu’s capital. Underground well water has been the primary source of water in Emma’s community for over three decades. On rainy days, the underground wells are often covered with mud, which creates challenges for Emma and her children.

“In the past I was worried about my children’s health whenever it started to rain and the struggle I had to face to walk for about five kilometres to collect clean water. It was especially difficult when I was pregnant”, shared Emma.

Community chief and Pastor Willy Romain, aged 67, said he didn’t think his community would ever have access to a reliable source of clean water.

 Chief Romain and his family now have access to clean 

Thousands of people who live in the area around Blacksands migrated from different islands in Vanuatu and for the first time they have witnessed development.

“For three decades I’ve seen my children and even grandchildren with different illnesses due to unsafe water but today, thanks to the land owners and World Vision, we now have a healthy community”, shared Chief Romain.

In the rainy season, his vegetable garden was often flooded. This made it difficult for his family as there would be an additional financial burden.

“The flooding would damage the vegetables so as well as paying for clean, safe drinking water for my children and grandchildren over the years during the wet season, I would also have to buy vegetables for my family, but now, I can save money”, Chief Romain said.

On behalf of the land owners, the assistant chairman of Ifira Council of Chiefs, Daniel Kalorib, said the council supports this development.

“Water is essential to life and a person’s survival depends on drinking clean water. I want children to access clean and safe water so they are healthy and have a bright future. The World Vision water project will help increase the standard of living in this area”, shared Chief Kalorib.

Chief Kalorib said access to clean and safe water will change the living standard of many people in the community

World Vision Port Vila Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project manager, Johnnah Nahwo, said the project has been successfully completed and has targeted five peri urban communities including Blacksands Zone 2 area, Erakor Bridge Ekoftau, Enslar, Entenmak, Malapoa Matantapua area, Ohlen Nampanga  (Erromango Community), Tokyo Paama and Tokyo Buninga (Namba 3 Eraza Community).

Mr. Nahwo received a token of appreciation from a community leader during the launch ceremony 

“We have installed water meters with the main water supplier in Port Vila, Unelco, run polly pipes, improved underground wells and installed water tanks to benefit over 2000 people. I would like to acknowledge the Thankyou Group who funded this project. It will change the lives of many children in these communities”, said Mr. Nahwo.

For Emma, this is the best gift for her children to celebrate Vanuatu Children’s Day on July 24.

The Port Vila Urban Water, Sanitation and Hygiene project was funded by the Australian social enterprise Thankyou Group.