Goal 6 – Water and Sanitation

MARCH 2017

An ABM story: Father Samuel Takaro from Ambae, Vanuatu

An example of an ABM water tank installed in Vanuatu.  © ABM/Vivienne For, 2017

“When I first came into this community, I find it quite hard to communicate with people and to get things going. This is because 60% of the total population are not educated. I lived with the people for almost 10 months before requesting assistance from the Anglican Church of Melanesia and their Water and Sanitation Program.

“It is a privilege to engage with this program because it not only advocates good health and hygiene practices, but builds up the capacity of [community] members. It encourages them to take up leadership roles and work together as a community, to visit households and provide awareness about the need for clean and safe drinking water, clean dwelling house, clean kitchen, proper sanitary latrines and bathroom and proper refuse sites. I am glad that changes took place very slowly but people realized the differences and share their happiness.

“We are looking forward to all 40 households having clean and safe drinking water in 2-3 years’ time.”

ABM is proud to support the Water and Sanitation program of the Anglican Church of Melanesia in Vanuatu. In 2017, our aim is to ensure 3,650 people have access to clean water and toileting facilities, and 10,000 benefit from training in safe hygiene practices.