Save the Children Fiji received a US$15 000 ($31,390) grant recently to install 5000-litre water tanks in four early childhood education centres.

Save the Children Fiji chief executive offic­er Iris Low-McKenzie said this initiative was designed to prepare four communities, two in the West and two in the North, to meet the need for clean drinking water in schools and good hygiene practice for students.

“The project is also designed to provide af­fected communities with a 5000-litre water tank, with rain water collecting materials fixed on existing roods such as guttering and piping’s as well as to engage local communi­ties to actively participate in the manage­ment of their environment and surround­ings,” Ms Low-McKenzie said.

“The Ford Motor Company Fund and Global Giving International have extended partner­ship with funding support to SC Fiji for the implementation of disaster risk reduction drought mitigation project 2017.”

Ford Motor Company local distributor, Shreedhar Motors Limited, national manag­er sales and marketing, Jagdish Chand said the grant’s programme demonstrated Ford’s deep commitment to communities in Fiji.

“The project is aimed to increase access to clean water and improve sanitation for stu­dents in communities whenever the country experiences prolonged dry spells, which oc­casionally disrupt classes and increase chil­dren’s vulnerability to diseases,” he said.

Shreedhar Motor Ltd chief executive officer Arvin Narayan said the SC Fiji’s proposal demonstrated a genuine commitment to en­vironmental conservation while addressing the most urgent needs for these communi­ties.

“This says exactly what the Ford Conserva­tion and Environmental Grants stand for, and is one of many ways that Ford goes further to improve the quality of life in the communi­ties where we do business,” Mr Narayan said.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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