A recent 10-day internship has ignited an important dialogue about water safety and sanitation at Saru MGM Primary School, thanks to the efforts of a visiting student from Japan. Maho Yoshida, an intern with Social Innovation Fiji (SIF) hailing from Saitama near Tokyo, recently completed a self-funded initiative focused on addressing Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which aims to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Motivated by a desire to tackle global social issues rapidly and collaboratively, Ms. Yoshida identified clean water as her paramount focus for her project in Fiji. In a remarkable turnaround, her project transitioned from an idea to implementation in just four days, facilitated by effective consultations with crucial government agencies.
“I went to the Ministry of Education and got approval, then proceeded to the Water Authority of Fiji to determine the best primary school for a lesson on accessing clean water,” she explained. Despite her initial apprehensions about reaching out to these agencies, she commended the supportive local cooperation that enabled her to execute her project seamlessly.
“I was so nervous, but they were so kind and accepted my project quickly,” she added, reflecting on the warm welcome she received.
The project employed a creative mix of visual presentations and interactive activities to engage the students. “I taught them how to collect clean water from rainwater, incorporating a dance to make the presentation more enjoyable for the children,” she shared.
This initiative garnered significant support from the head of Saru MGM Primary School, who emphasized the importance of educating children on the proper methods for drinking rainwater, noting, “Rainwater is difficult to drink directly; we must filter it and boil it first, which children may not be aware of.”
Looking ahead, Ms. Yoshida expresses her ambition to expand her project’s impact by introducing it to Japanese companies. “I want to cooperate with them and contribute more to Fiji from Japan,” she stated, demonstrating her commitment to fostering lasting change in the region.
Though her current project has come to an end, Ms. Yoshida views this experience as the start of a broader journey to make a significant difference in the area of water safety and sanitation. Her efforts signify a hopeful step toward addressing critical global challenges through local engagement and education.