An example of
partnership
The Diocese of
Auki is on the
island of Malaita
in the Solomon
Islands
Malaita is a large island but good
agricultural land is scarce.
The water project is in a rural area
consisting of six small villages.
Where do the villagers get fresh
water from?
Auki is a coastal
area surrounded
by sea water.
So where do the
people get fresh
water from?
What do you think?
The source of the water is an
underground rain-fed stream which flows
into a concrete tank.
At the moment water
from the stream flows
into the tank and then
into 12 existing outlets.
During a review of the
system in 2012, only five
outlets were working ...
very slowly!
There were no taps, so
the pipes were always
dripping – wasting water.
1,500 people were sharing 5 dribbly pipes!
The original system was
built in 1970 using
galvanised iron pipes.
In 2012 the pipes were
found to be corroding
and clogged with silt.
Some pipes were broken.
One of the partners involved in the water project is
the Catholic Diocese of Auki, represented by Liborio
Maemauri (left) and Francis Waleliofala (right).
Who do you think the man in the red t-shirt is?
Nick Borthwick from Caritas Aotearoa NZ works with
communities in places like Solomon Islands to help
people achieve their goals and dreams – in things like
education, agriculture and human rights.
Stage one of the Auki water project (Dec 2012) was to
repair the tank and improve the water flow.
Now it takes less than a minute to fill a bucket with
water. It used to take up to 20 minutes!
Stage two of the project is to construct 17 more
stand pipes and taps and concrete skirts, like this
one in the village of Kwainaketo.
This is the plan...
Partnership at Work: A community meeting
The Chairperson of the local water committee is
speaking to the local people.
The local people are going to raise some of
the money for stage two of the project
Let’s recap what you’ve learned!!
How will the new water system make life better for
the six communities in Auki?
•Water is safer and cleaner. (There is less rust, silt and
residue in the new pipes.)
•It takes less time to collect water and do household
washing.
•Less water is wasted because the taps can turn the
water flow on and off.
Families will be healthier because of improved
access to clean water for washing and bathing.
Access to clean drinking water will
also improve.
Help Caritas continue improving water
systems in Auki.
Go to www.caritaschallenge.org.nz
Photos: Adrian Heke
Philip Gibbs
Nick Borthwick