CHRISTMAS came early for some 342 villagers of Solevu in Malolo who now have bore holes to provide water thanks to the Rotary Water for Life in Fiji Foundation.
The villagers have relied on wells and rainwater for 20 years.
Village headman Jone Kadibuka said the villagers were happy and relieved because they now had a guaranteed water supply.
Mr Kadibuka said they had struggled for the past 20 years because there was no constant water supply.
"We are thankful to Water for Life Foundation for their contribution as well as the villagers for their efforts," he said.
Water sources would dry up during droughts, Mr Kadibuka said, focring villagers to walk for miles or take a boat to nearby resorts and beg them for water.
It was also an end to their long walks in search for drinking water.
This he said had been happening for years despite the village having a tap system.
"We had the pipe system, but there was no source," he said.
Mr Kadibuka said a lot had changed in the village since the boreholes were installed last month.
"We now get water supply three times a day," he said.
"This is better than having to look for water all the time," he said.
Water For Life provided the village with four bore holes while the villagers contributed towards the pipe system.
Water for Life in Fiji Foundation director David Roth said they aimed to provide access to safe drinking and sanitation to communities living all over Fiji.
Mr Roth said they were pleased to be in Solevu and witnessed the hardships that people there endured in search for water.
He said the projects were funded by Vodafone ATH Foundation, Fiji Water, Westpac Bank and Golden Manufacturers.
Vodafone Foundation director Aslam Khan said they were happy to see how the projects had put smiles on the faces of the people.
