Josephine Thomas, Head Teacher at Pange Primary School talks about the impact of the water supply system on her students and women.

A convenient and safe place to drink and wash can save a woman or girl up to 40 hours a week.

Josephine talks about how student absenteeism has gone down, what the water supply means for her

And how it keeps the ladies safe.

She’s a professional women of standing in the community and was the first woman I’d met who was able to share with me fairly openly about the impact of the water projects on women.

She speaks in a mix of English and pidgin, but listen closely and you’ll get the gist of it.

While hacking through the jungle looking for a water supply spring, my friend Ferris showed me this skull shrine. The skulls date back a few generations to the head hunting days for which parts of the Solomon Islands were famous.

Mary tells her story of the impact of water on her life and what it means to have convenient clean water, near her village home.

Ian’s rough Pidgin translation!

Since I was born until now, it’s been hard to collect water.

I go to the river and carry the water in buckets back to the garden (to grow food).

I get the water, come back, and repeat, even into the night.

It’s really difficult for me.

In the wet season, the river runs very dirty. And I can’t use it.

It’s a big problem. For my whole life.

We have had nobody to help with the water supply.

So I would love if you can come and help us with the water supply

Cathie talks about how hard it is during the wet season to get water;

Especially with the impact the logging company has had in the upper catchment;

She talks about the little government help to solve the water supply problem;

And she thanks us for considering her village to be part of the program.