The Solotavui Village 2012

 The Solotavui Village

 We are happy to be back in Fiji working on our next project. Our project manager, Ben Sorensen has surveyed many areas around Kadavu to locate sources for clean water.  He has also had several meetings around Kadavu and Suva including meetings with the Commissioner - Eastern Division, Netani Rika and the Assistant District Officer of Kadavu, Alfana McGoon. The Fiji government has been very supportive. We began work on our 4th water project, the Solotavui Village on Kadavu Island May 2012.

 

 

 

 The local support has been amazing. Four days a week, we have around 15 to 30 men coming to the project ready to work. As these men work with our project manager shoulder to shoulder, they learn how to maintain and repair their water source. This provides preparation for eventual ownership of the water project, which the people of Solotavui Village will clean and maintain. Lunch is prepared by the women of the village and delivered by them and the children. Everyone wants to be a part of the project.

After digging out the spring and preparing the project site for a containment dam, the crew carries supplies to the job site, including 100 lb bags of cement, rebar, wood, PVC pipe and a large water tank. An average day begins with bagging sand on a nearby beach to mix with cement, digging trenches to lay the PVC pipe and digging out a level platform for the water tank. The work takes place during long hard days in the hot sun or heavy rain, but to all those who are a part of this work, it is very rewarding.

 

You can also be a part of the Solotavui Village Project and help improve the lives of these wonderful people by making a donation through PayPal today.

    Water is LIFE 

The project started May 1, 2012, expected completion date is July 2012

Our next water project for the Navuatu village...

In April members of the Wananavu Kadavu Board of Directors as well as several of our friends and supports spent three and half weeks living and working with the villagers at one of our water project sites. The experience was a priceless adventure to see firsthand the hard work and dedication of our project manager, Ben Sorensen and a wonderful opportunity to meet the local people who have worked tirelessly to bring water into their villages. Their efforts and their gratitude were overwhelming and humbling.
 
Once you meet the people of Fiji in need of water, you know the work we are doing is important to their health and longevity. Once you live with them sharing in all aspects of their everyday life you truly appreciate what amazing people they are; who welcomed us as family into their homes and lives.
 
In Suva we had little time to accomplish everything on our list. Ben joined Heinz and me in Suva to meet with government officials and finish up paper work for a three-year work permit so that we can continue our efforts to bring safe drinking water to Fiji’s villages. Additionally, I went to the Rotomould warehouse to purchased two 500 liter tanks, as well as cement, wire and tools needed for the project; all thanks to your generous donations.
 
The purchasing the tanks, supplies, organizing shipment of the materials I did in Suva is all work that our Project Manager, Ben usually manages. Taking on these tasks was an experience to spend one day walking in his shoes; on what would be considered an easy day in Suva for Ben. It was eye opening. As some of you might know Ben is my son. The good and bad of having my son Ben as project manager is, I expect a lot out of him and I'm not always the sympathetic ear to his needs. I realized I'm expecting a lot from someone who has donated his time and skills to make these projects a job very well done. I know Ben has the great ability to make people feel at ease, no matter where we were in Suva or the Island of Kadavu it seemed everyone knew him. He has become family to the people who have housed and fed him during his time in Fiji. I am very proud of the dedication and the relationships he has established with the Fijian people on behalf of the Wananavu Kadavu ~ Water Project.
 
Our group also had the opportunity to spend time with Russell Howorth, who is the director of The Pacific Islands Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC), an inter-governmental, regional organization dedicated to providing services to promote sustainable development in Fiji as well as other countries in the Asia-Pacific region. In his 2010 World Water Day Address, he highlighted the safe drinking water challenges in the Pacific area and Fiji. The transcript of his address is available on the SOPAC website: http://www.sopac.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=198 Russell also introduced me Ray Paris who is with the local Rotary in Suva and an engineer. Heinz and I had the opportunity to attend a Rotary luncheon and exchanged banners with the Rotary Club of Suva North Fiji Islands  and the Holladay Rotary in Utah, USA.
 
Among our friends and supporters who traveled to Fiji on this trip were Dexter Taylor, a Utah based businessman, magician and proud father of Serena Martineau our photographer, who also joined us. Before Dexter returned home he was the talk of Fiji, "The Magic Man". He entertained both the children and adults with his shows around the Drue, Navoatu and Vuniesa villages. Serena photographed Wananavu Kadavu ~ Water Project work. Serena knows how to capture the life in the faces she photographs, her photos tell a story.
 
The resources we have been given by very talented caring people is beyond my expectations. I want to thank you all for believing in Wananavu Kadavu~Water Project, the help you provide is immeasurable.
 
I can't express the gratitude I have for the people who have appeared out of nowhere to share their expertise with us. The family who took us in like they have Ben.
 
It takes more than a village to make a change, it takes the world.

One village at a time, together we can...