Excerpt and Photo from solomonstarnews.com
Families comprising 576 people in Tikopia, Temotu province are now enjoying reliable access to clean water for drinking, cooking, and washing—right at their houses’ doorsteps.
This transformation follows the successful completion of the St. Luke Community Faea Water Project, which began in June 2023.
Four communities in the Faea District and one in the St. John Community of Ravenga District have benefited from the project, which included the construction of two water dams and a network of 31 standpipes.
For over 20 years, these communities relied on rainwater collection and a deteriorating water system built in the early 1980s. Over time, the system degraded to a single standpipe, which was dry most of the time. Periods of drought, intensified by climate change, often left families struggling to secure water, exacerbating social and economic vulnerabilities on this cyclone-prone and geographically isolated island.
“This project has lifted one of our longest-standing burdens,” said Mr. Pae Seivaea, Chairman of the St. Luke Community. “For years, we had to carry water over long distances—mothers, children, everyone. Now, clean water is right in front of our homes. It is truly changing our daily lives.”
The project’s completion reflects the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) commitment to community-driven development in the Solomon Islands and the broader Pacific region. It directly contributes to improving the resilience and well-being of local populations.