08/04/10 - Water joy for Laisani
For 73-year-old Laisani Dakunimata, decades of searching for a constant and reliable water source for her village has come to an end.
She can still recall that day last year August 28, when the latest commissioning of water projects for Rotary Pacific Water For Life Foundation took place at her Driti Village, in Dawasamu, Tailevu.
The mother of five spoke of the great joy the new water system brought her.
"E sa dua na siga marautaki dina vei au" ("it was indeed a very happy and momentous occasion for me") she said.
Laisani said that over the years she had seen great hardship and struggles among the villagers in their attempts to gain water. She recounted her childhood days when there were only four wells in the village and children were strictly monitored in fear that they would accidentally fall into the wells.
"When wells were dry the women would fetch water from the dalo plantations nearby and often hike for miles to a water source nearby using beer bottles to cart the water (as back then there were no plastic bottles)," she explained.
"Now, the water goes directly from the dam to all the taps in the village. They enjoy clean, fresh water that is never dry and always available. Life in the schools nearby have also benefited as now more teachers are being housed and the schools themselves have drinking water for students as well as for their toilets and baths."
Driti Village water project committee head Isoa Delai explained that when they first decided to dig a borehole, funding was the major issue but they found out about Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation from other villages and decided to approach RPWFLF and ask for assistance.
To their delight, funding was approved and works started at the end of February last year.
"We were pleasantly surprised to have gotten a positive response from the RPWLF The people of Driti are thankful for the help that has been shown by the RPWLF for their great work our children and following generations will benefit greatly from the legacy the foundation has left with them," he said.
The day's events started with villagers hosting guests to traditional ceremonies of welcome and thanksgiving followed by feasting and merrymaking as the quiet village, a 45-minute bumpy ride from Queen Victoria School in Tailevu, became a hive of activity.
Present at the commissioning were representatives from three of the four corporate bodies that funded the project Natural Waters, Westpac, and Vodafone ATH Foundation.
Fully funded by the Rotary Pacific Water For Life Foundation, a little over 100 villagers, government workers and students from a nearby primary and secondary school now enjoy access to clean, safe and continuous water, thanks to the $18,149 dam built at Driti.
For the many that gathered for the official opening of the dam, it was a memorable day that will be forever be etched in their memories.
FIJI TIMES, Thursday 8 April 2010
She can still recall that day last year August 28, when the latest commissioning of water projects for Rotary Pacific Water For Life Foundation took place at her Driti Village, in Dawasamu, Tailevu.
The mother of five spoke of the great joy the new water system brought her.
"E sa dua na siga marautaki dina vei au" ("it was indeed a very happy and momentous occasion for me") she said.
Laisani said that over the years she had seen great hardship and struggles among the villagers in their attempts to gain water. She recounted her childhood days when there were only four wells in the village and children were strictly monitored in fear that they would accidentally fall into the wells.
"When wells were dry the women would fetch water from the dalo plantations nearby and often hike for miles to a water source nearby using beer bottles to cart the water (as back then there were no plastic bottles)," she explained.
"Now, the water goes directly from the dam to all the taps in the village. They enjoy clean, fresh water that is never dry and always available. Life in the schools nearby have also benefited as now more teachers are being housed and the schools themselves have drinking water for students as well as for their toilets and baths."
Driti Village water project committee head Isoa Delai explained that when they first decided to dig a borehole, funding was the major issue but they found out about Rotary Pacific Water for Life Foundation from other villages and decided to approach RPWFLF and ask for assistance.
To their delight, funding was approved and works started at the end of February last year.
"We were pleasantly surprised to have gotten a positive response from the RPWLF The people of Driti are thankful for the help that has been shown by the RPWLF for their great work our children and following generations will benefit greatly from the legacy the foundation has left with them," he said.
The day's events started with villagers hosting guests to traditional ceremonies of welcome and thanksgiving followed by feasting and merrymaking as the quiet village, a 45-minute bumpy ride from Queen Victoria School in Tailevu, became a hive of activity.
Present at the commissioning were representatives from three of the four corporate bodies that funded the project Natural Waters, Westpac, and Vodafone ATH Foundation.
Fully funded by the Rotary Pacific Water For Life Foundation, a little over 100 villagers, government workers and students from a nearby primary and secondary school now enjoy access to clean, safe and continuous water, thanks to the $18,149 dam built at Driti.
For the many that gathered for the official opening of the dam, it was a memorable day that will be forever be etched in their memories.
FIJI TIMES, Thursday 8 April 2010
