At the foot of the Nakauvadra Mountains, Naseyani village is home to some 400 residents, a number of whom are employed at the FIJI Water factory 7km down the road.  Since the establishment of FIJI Water, Naseyani has seen many benefits including employment opportunities, assistance for the local school, establishment of a kindergarten, and in 2008, the electrification of all the homes in the village. As the population continued to grow, however, the community’s decades-old dam and pipe water system could no longer supply sufficient water flow to the 60 plus homes. The taps in the village and nearby Naseyani Primary School would often run dry, and during heavy rains the water was contaminated by debris. Village women complained that they never used the shower heads in their homes, because even when water was flowing, pressure was too low for anything but a bucket bath.

Now, thanks to FIJI Water’s latest borehole project in the village, clean water is available in abundance and the days of bathing in the river are over. The project included a borehole, pump, pump housing, three 10,000 L tanks, piping, fencing and electrical connection, costing about USD $35,000. Funding was made possible by the Natural Waters of Viti Ltd Trust. Established in 2000, the trust is funded by a percentage of revenue and annually provides for needed community development projects in vanua Vatukaloko surrounding the factory.

The project was managed by Vanua Relations Manager, Apao Erone, and could not have been completed without the cooperation of Naseyani and the assistance of numerous FIJI Water employees and partners including Elisha Engineering. In particular, Director of Water Quality, Adi Tanuwidjaja, Carptenter Pita Tikovagone, and Aravandra Prasad, FIJI Water’s onsite plumber, participated in the implementation of the project which will provide 36,000L water per day to the people of Naseyani.
 

Naseyani officially opened their new borehole project on Friday June 11th, with numerous FIJI Water employees attending. Chief Guest was Paul Davies, Managing Director of NWVL.  

“Water is our most precious resource and FIJI Water is privileged to be able to provide this gift. This project was completed in partnership with the people of Naseyani. We know that, managed wisely, it will serve your community for many years to come,” said Paul during his speech.

Together with Naseyani’s local chief, the Ratu ni Mali, Paul cut the ribbon and flipped the switch to open the project and begin the festivities- festive being the operative word. A delicious feast, drinking of kava, singing, dancing, and a playful giving of gifts ensued, with all the FIJI Water men forcably dressed in oversized colorful women's mumus. The day will certainly not be one soon forgotten in Naseyani and among our FIJI Water family!
 

Drasa Avenue Primary School in Lautoka is taking an innovative approach to fundraising- donors buy mahoganny seedlings at $10 a tree and students plant them in reforesting areas designated by the Department of Forestry. The school is aiming for $3000 or 300 total trees in order to renovate some of their school buildings. Every tree planted will also go towards the Department of Forestry's goal of 1 million trees planted around the country by 2011. FIJI Water parent Ratu Jone Uluilakeba was getting his hands dirty over the weekend, planting trees with students around Lautoka.

FIJI Water is thrilled to contribute towards the program with 20 trees to be planted around our Naikabula Yard just outside Lautoka on Saturday June 26th. If you'd like to purchase a tree, contact foundation@fijiwater.com

We all have bad days- running late for a meeting, phone or computer is on the fritz, a rough commute, a to-do list two pages too long. I was having one of these days- that is, until I arrived at Nausori Village in Ra a few weeks ago to assess the FIJI Water Foundation project recently completed there. You can't help but smile at the sight of children at play on a new playground funded in partnership with the community.

Nausori Kindergarten was established in 1993 and registered with Ministry of Education in 2008. About 20 children ages 4-5 attend the village-based school before making the long trek out of the village by bus or carrier to attend nearby primary schools in the Nalawa area 8 km away.

 Early Childhood Education has been recognized and promoted by the Ministry of Education in recent years as crucial to children's development, yet the funds to support kindergartens and teacher salaries are lacking. FIJI Water Foundation has been working to fill these gaps by helping schools and communities to build and equip kindergartens around the country, particularly in rural and low-income areas including urban squatter settlements.

The Nausori project, which included the provision of a swingset, seesaw, and slide to the community, may seem a small luxury, but to the community and to the children it has been invaluable. Play equipment is not available at most rural schools- only in towns and cities. The school secretary Viliame Nawaikalou has have already remarked on the increased enthusiasm children have in coming to school. As their contribution, the kindergarten committee has provided a housing for the play set to shade children from the sun, and a bed of sawdust to prevent bumps and bruises. The school grounds are kept neat and tidy and children are only to use the equipment when supervised.

After a play and song session and a few pieces of fresh watermelon with the kindergarteners, I had to admit that my day had turned around. FIJI Water Foundation is changing lives all over Fiji, in ways big and small- mine included.