Residents of Vini Fou last Friday celebrated the restoration and rehabilitation of their freshwater pool Punaoleola in a major boost for the village.

The work was undertaken under the EFKS Vini Fou’s Conserving our Natural Spring and Waterways Project, which not only increased people's awareness of the importance of conserving fresh water resources, but also improved the quality of the surrounding ecosystem for the future.

A joint statement was issued last Friday by the GEF Small Grants Programme, the Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to mark the official opening of the freshwater pool.

Living up to its name, which means the springs of life, the Punaoleola pool has been the source of freshwater for the Vini Fou community for many years. They've used it for bathing, drinking and a conducive environment to grow watercress. But natural disasters, human activities and pollution over the years led to the deterioration of the pool. However, the makeover has transformed the pool.

Project Coordinator, Leota Victory Leavai, was elated at the official commissioning of the fresh water pool and added that it is now more safety.

“The biggest benefit for the community now, thanks to this project, is having a clean pool, and the protection of the springs within the pool because they had been vulnerable to soil erosion," said Leota. 

"With a proper enclosure now in place, it is much safer and cleaner for the community to enjoy."

The EFKS Vini Fou Project cost about SAT$55,000 and was funded under the UNDP and GEF-SGP. The project supports national efforts to conserve and protect freshwater sources and reduce land-based pollution. 

The UNDP Assistant Resident Representative, Lepale Aussie Simanu, said the Punaoleola pool essentially reflected the mission of the Small Grants Programme.

The objectives of the project are to support communities by providing financial and technical assistance to projects that aim to conserve and restore the environment and natural resources, while enhancing people’s wellbeing. 

"The UNDP GEF-SGP congratulates the Vini Fou community, particularly the project committee, for their diligence and perseverance to see the project through to its successful completion,” said Lepale.

Awareness-raising activities were held at the beginning of the project with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment talking on the importance of conserving the freshwater source. 

Other project activities included adopting village by-laws to enforce the protection of the pool, conducting tree planting initiatives, reinforcing the wall of the pool to prevent soil erosion, growing watercress in the freshwater pool, and creating signage for awareness raising. A training programme for the youth and children on the importance of removing algae and carnivorous fish from the pool was also held. 

The Vice President of the EFKS Vini Fou Project Committee, Aumua Clark Peteru, said the community is now more aware and have a newfound appreciation of the benefits of the pool,and are now taking better care of it. 

"The primary beneficiaries are the children because they swim in it every day, and the experience is now more enjoyable. Most of the adults come in the evening and use it for bathing," said Aumua. 

"Watercress is also grown at the end of the pool, as there is also as a shelter for people who want to take a rest and enjoy the cool air. It can also be a source of drinking water if boiled, and has the potential to be a stand-by source for us and other nearby villages in case of a drought. 

"It can also be used for the crops. The water is also deeper and cooler now because of the rehabilitation work that had been done which also includes proper sealing of the sides."