Lekutu is a remote village in  the Tikina of Bua in Vanua Levu,the second largest island in Fiji. Majority of the people are subsistance farmers who earn their living from planting and selling Yaqona(kava) and dalo and or fishing. The primary school is attended by children from the nearby villages of Kavula and Banikea which are 10km away and Tavea,Namovoivoi and nearby settlements.The closest town is Savusavu which is approximately 100kms  with the cost of bus-fare at around $8 - one way and the school has 173 students and 8 teachers.The project,which started in the third quarter of 2009 was not without it's challenges ranging from  the dry spell to continuous rain but this did not deter the committee from completing the project.With the cooperation of the nominated local supplier,the project was completed just a day before the library was opened.

The other major requirement  much needed by the school are renovations to the existing classrooms and desks and chairs and additional library books for the new library.

The total project cost was $11,000.00 cost  with $13,700.00 donated by the Fiji Water Foundation and the remainder by the village and was recently opened by the Foundation Manager, Fane Niumataiwalu.

“Wailevu” means abundant water, and it is the name of the region, the village, and the stream that issues there. The title of the chief is Lord of Wailevu or Tui. Formerly Wailevu functioned as a "Forum" of food and commodities, because food was brought there and stored. People and commodities travelled along the coast by the sea in what was known as a trafficking path. It followed the coast, never going by sea. The path existed to bring tribute to the Tui and for the exchange of gifts at feasts. It was the Fijian way of barter and trade. The village of Wailevu was the market place. 

Over the years and since 1956, the reticulation system  set up  to allow  villagers and the school access to water  has deteriorated with no progressive upgrades done  by the  state.Wailevu East District School has approximately150 plus from clases 1-8 and has been sharing a water source  with Wailevu village which currently has around 40 homes with a total of around 100 villagers.The new reticulation system  will enable the school children of Wailevu East, access to clean water with no disruptions to classes as has been the case for  years .The Fiji Water Foundation donated $15,000.00  towards the project and the project was recently commissioned by  Fane Niumataiwalu, the Foundation Manager.

The air is getting warmer in the southern hemisphere,the days longerand the nights shorter.While the season's change,lets remember that some things don't,especially the need for people to make connections and to share resources to empower communities toward a brighter future.

Wishing you and your family all the joy of the holiday season and the hope that the new year brings.

Farewell and good luck to Olive  Compain,the Foundation Administrator who recently resigned from the Fiji Water Foundation  will take her son Jackson to join her partner Brad,in Bulolo,Papua New Guinea.

Thank you for your contribution to the Fiji Water Foundation  - MOCE MADA !