HFH Fiji Hands Over Japanese-Funded Water Supply Project
US40,000 Japanese Government Grant Supports Construction Of Water Dam, Water Tanks And Pipelines In Lawaki Village
SUVA, 25th January 2011: Habitat for Humanity Fiji recently handed over a Japanese-funded water supply project which will meet the needs of nearly 400 people.
The US40,000 project in Lawaki village, Tailevu province, on the northeastern coast of the main island of Viti Levu, marked the first time that HFH Fiji has teamed up with the Japanese government.
(Top) Japan’s ambassador to Fiji, Yutaka Yoshizawa (left), turning the tap. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Information, Fiji Islands; HFH Fiji’s water program coordinator, Saimoni Ravatu, with the sign marking Habitat’s community water project. (Bottom) Two 5,000-liter water storage tanks were installed by HFH Fiji in Lawaki village.
At the handover ceremony, Yutaka Yoshizawa, the Japanese ambassador to Fiji, said the project was timely for the people of Lawaki and nearby villages given the growing population.
Since the grant program began in 1993, Japan has funded 255 projects in Fiji, worth a total of about US11.3 million, the ambassador was quoted as saying in the local online newspaper Fijilive.
Prior to the construction of the Japanese-funded dam, Lawaki villagers had to rely on a smaller dam which could not provide sufficient water, especially during the dry season.
The Lawaki project is among three HFH Fiji projects supported by Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Program. HFH Fiji started constructing the water dam, two 5,000-liter storage tanks and installing new pipe lines in mid-November 2010. The project was completed just over a month later.
The other two projects, also on Viti Levu island, will commence soon. In Sautabu, Nadroga-Navosa province. HFH Fiji will be installing a 10,000-liter water tank and new pipeline connecting the dam and water tank to benefit 200 people.
Over in Taulevu, Naitasiri province, HFH Fiji will install three 10,000-liter and eight 5,000-liter water tanks. Pipes for collecting rain water will also be laid to meet the needs of 385 people.
The projects are part of HFH Fiji’s community water program which aims to provide adequate, safe and reliable access to water and sanitation systems to people in the Pacific Island country.
In 2010, HFH Fiji completed a community water project in Nakorovou village with funding from the Australian government through its Direct Aid Program. HFH Fiji managed the project which included installing a 5,200-liter water tank and laying pipelines connecting the water supply to the village.