Toefuata'iga story, Samoa
Toefuata'iga, a 13-year-old student in Samoa, faced severe challenges and disruptions to her learning due to water scarcity. After Caritas Australia’s partner Caritas Samoa installed a 10,000 litre water tank at her school, Toefuata'iga and her classmates saw improved health and more consistent class attendance.
Toefuata’iga smiles at camera in front of a group of Samoan school children at assembly. Photo: Caritas Australia.
Toefuata’iga writes on a chalkboard in a primary school classroom in Samoa. Photo: Caritas Australia.
Toefuata'iga experienced water scarcity at her school in Samoa.
Toefuata'iga and her classmates faced frequent early school dismissals and missed lessons due to a lack of clean water. Teachers often had to leave the school to fetch water from nearby homes, adding strain to the staff and local community. The absence of a reliable water source also led to compromised hygiene, increasing the risk of dehydration and waterborne diseases, which affected students' health.
Despite being surrounded by water, many Samoans struggle with consistent access to clean drinking water, and resort to relying on rainwater or neighbours who have access to a water pipeline.
Climate change is leading to longer, drier periods. The Samoan Water Authority pipeline frequently needs to be shut down due to natural disasters and maintenance.
School would finish early, so we wouldn’t finish our lessons because when there wasn't any water, we wouldn't have classes
The situation changed dramatically when Caritas Samoa, a partner of Caritas Australia, installed a 10,000 litre water tank at the school.
This new water source enabled the school to maintain regular class schedules, improving both educational outcomes and student health.
Attendance and enrolment numbers surged, as parents no longer worried about sending their children to a school without access to clean water.
"When we opened our water tank, the parents were really happy, they were over the moon... And now they don't have any problems," shared Principal Ada. "Now we don’t need to send the children home early, and we can keep up with our lessons. It’s made such a difference."
The tank also alleviated financial and logistical burdens on teachers and nearby families, allowing the school community to focus on education rather than the constant struggle for water.
Toefuata’iga fills up her water bottle from a Samoan primary school’s drinking water tank. Photo: Caritas Australia.
Principal Ada (right) and a group of students including Toefuata’iga (centre), 13, smile to camera in a Samoan primary school class. Photo: Caritas Australia.
Access to water is about more than convenience. It is the key to breaking the cycle of poverty, and to helping students like Toefuata'iga fulfil her dreams.
“I would like to become a good teacher. To teach the children so they will have a brighter future,” Toefuata'iga said.
Toefuata'iga's school is now in a better position to provide a stable learning environment. However, with the burgeoning impacts of climate change-induced drought, Toefuata'iga and her peers still have concerns about the future of their water supply.
With your ongoing support, Caritas Australia continues to provide practical solutions for communities like Toefuata'iga’s, ensuring that clean water and education are not just dreams but realities.
Your donation can help
Students stand with water buckets in front of a water tank in a Samoan primary school. Photo: Caritas Australia.
Install a 10,000L water tank at a school with a stand-alone water harvesting system so that students can access clean, safe water
Samoan primary school students and a mother walk to school together. Photo: Caritas Australia.
Provide hand sanitisers to increase hygiene and sanitation for community members in Samoa
Principal Ada teaches a classroom English in her Samoan primary school. Photo: Caritas Australia.
Facilitate hygiene training for a school in Samoa so they have the knowledge to prevent more illnesses
