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Fiji Yasawa Hub Project Report September 2014 Water Security and WASH

Final update on WASH initiative in Yaqeta Village In May 2014, GVI completed a month long WASH initiative in Yaqeta village, in the central Yasawa islands. Alongside a focus on hygiene and sanitation education and awareness, this project successfully increased the capacity for available drinking water in the village by 42,000 litres. Following a recent assessment on the development and sustainability of this initiative; The GVI team set out to further improve the quality and quantity of available drinking water available in Yaqeta. This conclusion was based on an assessment of the communitys cumulative drinking water requirements, current available water and potential future water storage facilities. Based on the data volunteers and staff had collected and analysed, it was clear that Yaqeta, due to population size, was in need of more rainwater capacity to ensure the recommended minimum of 3 litres of drinking water per person per a day could be continually achieved throughout the year and throughout the increasingly severe dry season. Therefore, a further two rainwater harvesting systems were installed, increasing potential capacity by a further 10, 600 litres bringing the overall total of potential drinking water capacity made available by the project to 52, 600 litres.

WASH monitoring and Evaluation

As part of the follow up project, monitoring and evaluation of the work carried out in May 2014 was undertaken. This included an assessment of tanks previously installed and an evaluation of perceived and evident improvement to rainwater harvesting collection and capacity. An evaluation of the number of villagers who used the tippy tap handwash stations and managed tippy tap upkeep was carried out. Additionally, using a UNICEF WASH survey, an assessment of the water and sanitation facilities at Yaqeta Primary school was undertaken. From this assessment of sanitation facilities at the school, GVI community volunteers undertook some basic maintenance of the school toilets. Although this is not usually within the remit of the programme, the grave state of the sanitation situation led to a decision for immediate action and investigation with the school committee into the issues and source of the problems. Volunteers and locals worked together to clean and unblock the toilets, fix toilet doors, and develop a simple system for water collection that would enable some of the toilets to remain functional.

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After meeting with the school committee members responsible for the sanitation facilities, it was clear that school toilet maintenance had not been given priority for quite some time. All the toilets were full of excrement and maggots and had no lids or doors. It was confirmed when speaking to the students that these toilets were not being used, forcing children to defecate in the bush by the side of the school.

A meeting was held with the head teacher to discuss the ongoing sanitation problems within the school. It has transpired that the committee are hoping to acquire flushing toilets in the near future. As the success of flushing toilet systems in the Yasawas is very dependent on the amount of water available, something which continues to be a significant problem, GVI has strongly recommended that the school committee discuss the potential for composting toilets. Although this was not necessarily met with complete enthusiasm, it is clear that it would not be beneficial for the school to find themselves in the same situation at nearby Ratu Meli Memorial School in Nacula which currently has a flushing system but no available water to pump. At this stage GVI can only make strong recommendations to both the school committee and the head teacher based on experience at neighboring schools within the district and the empirical evidence and data collected on the water situation within the village.

To follow up on the basic hygiene lessons given earlier in the year as part of the kids club, this project also included formal and informal educational WASH lessons. These sessions used fun and informative lessons to reiterate lessons previously delivered back in May on basic sanitation and hygiene awareness. Many of the students remembered the lessons they had received previously and knew how to use the hand washing stations (tippy taps). However basic hygiene practices were not always followed and could not be easily observed by the GVI team, indicating that implementing new hygiene practices will take time.

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Evaluation

The installation of two new tanks was much appreciated by the people of Yaqeta and will increase the overall amount of available drinking water by a significant amount. However, at the time of this assessment, Yaqeta was undergoing a change in leadership and committees were as a result not fully functional. It was clear therefore that there was not a strong sense of ownership and responsibility for tank cleaning and maintenance. Although further advice and guidance on system cleaning was given by GVI, only time will tell whether this has been implemented on a regular basis. In terms of future projects in Yaqeta, it is felt for the time being that all potential work has been carried out. It would be beneficial, however, to regularly check on tanks, the ongoing water situation and be in contact with new leadership as it is elected. It is also recommended that GVI continues to assess the sanitation situation at Yaqeta Primary School, giving advice and recommendations to ensure that good hygiene and sanitation practices are upheld.

GVI Fiji

Appendix - List of materials used and example costs

To make a donation to the GVI Charitable Trust in support of GVIs WASH and Water Security initiatives in Fiji please visit www.gvi.org

Item Cost/unit Quantity Total Cost (FJD$)

Cement 15.40 8 123.20 Rebar (1/4 thick) 2.68 6 16.08 Brackets 1.20 20 24 Guttering Length 22.00 6 132 Connector 1.55 4 6.20 Expansion Head 7.50 2 15 End Cap 1.40 4 5.60 Elbow 4.00 (90 degree) 8.00

(120 degree) 2 (90)+2(120)

8 + 16

Downpipe 19.50 2 39 Tap 7.50 2 15 Fitting (SRB 20X15)

2 2 4

5300L tank 900 2 1800 2204.08