Twenty families in Savai'i will get the gift of water courtesy of a donation of tanks from the Clean Water and Sanitation project, run by members of the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.) Juniors.

The total cost of the tanks runs to an estimated $20,000. The contributions were donated through the "Kindest Cut" campaign, a donation drive run from Sydney, Australia.

S.V.S.G. Junior's Vice president, Franziska Sione, said the project was an ongoing effort to assist vulnerable families in need across Samoa.

But he also said this stage of the programme amounted to an early White Sunday gift for the family recipients, particularly their children who are typically tasked with fetching water from far away places.

The first phase of the project was launched in Upolu this year when 11 families received 10,000 litre water tanks from donors.

“The purpose of the project is to help vulnerable families,” he said.

“The requests from families come through our partnership with youth groups within the villages who inform us of families in need.

“We will be in Savaii this week to distribute the tanks to the selected families from villages of Tafua, Salelavalu, and Foailuga.”

Coralie Allen, the founder of The Kindest Cut campaign, said that no one should live without clean access to water.

“We are very fortunate to have clean water in Australia but one of my trips to Samoa made me realise of the great need for some families," she said. 

"We conducted fundraisers in Australia which has helped us not only bring the financial support to purchase tanks but also brought some supplies like clothes.

“I wanted to do something good that can help others who are in need and so I have been travelling to Samoa, not only to provide free haircuts but also send over a container full of food, clothes and kitchen utensils for the children at the Campus of Hope, Tuanaimato.”