A family from Malaemalu Falealili are the recipients of a 10,000 litre water tank courtesy of the Clean Water Project.

The project is run by members of the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) Juniors.

Agaese Pinati and his family said the tank donation brings to an end a daily two-kilometer walk to bring home buckets of rainwater and spring water. 

“The water connection does not reach our family because we are further inland of Malaemalu. Our family relies on the plantation for a living; my wife works at Saletoga Resort to help with the children's education and other necessities.

“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the donors Fexco Samoa Limited, the Samoa Spare Parts and Pepe Christian Fruean, for lending a helping hand to those who are in need,” he said. 

Mr Pinati was particularly thankful that his children will not need to walk to fetch water. 

“My children will no longer walk early mornings or late evenings to fetch water from the spring when we run out of rain water especially it is even harder with an elderly mother to look after."

The S.V.S.G. Junior President, Carmenita Solaese said the lack of access to clean water is a struggle faced by many families that sought welfare assistance with S.V.S.G., hence the decision by the youth group to address the problem. 

“Globally, it is the S.V.S.G. Juniors contribution to the achievement of one of the Sustainable Development Goals for Clean Water and Sanitation.

“Since November 2018, the S.V.S.G. Juniors have been fundraising and soliciting support from its local and international supporters to ensure that underprivileged families liked Agaese have access to clean water every day.”

Eleven families around the rural villages of Upolu have access to clean water, due to the generosity of donors to the "Clean Water" Project.