Stories

In Papua New Guinea Global Handwashing Day (15th October) 2020 was celebrated through a series of activities at a host school in Kavieng. The day started with a parade through Kavieng Town accompanied by a police escort.

Emeline is one of four apprentice students working with Live & Learn Tonga on the Australian government funded Tonga Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Recovery and Resilience project. As part of World Toilet Day 2020, Live & Learn applauds Emeline and her progress and professional development. Flood, drought and rising sea levels threaten sanitation systems Everyone must have sustainable sanitation that can withstand climate change and keep communities healthy and functioning.

Global Handwashing day 2020 was celebrated by students and staff in in 8 partner schools in West Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands. Because of COVID-19 safety practices, the activities were designed to reduces the overcrowding of students. Each school set up 5 different information stations that students visited in small groups

Live & Learn Environmental Education has partnered with New Zealand organisaion Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) to expand its work improving infrastructure, education, and climate resilience in pacific communities. 

VSA volunteer Joanna Lentfer has spent eight months helping Live & Learn establish its Tonga office.

ATEC Bio-digesters have been declared the winners of the Water and Energy for Food (WE4F) Asia Enhancing Development and Growth through Energy (EDGE) Ag-Energy Prize. ATEC was awarded the Ag-Energy prize for their innovative process of turning farming waste (animal manure & green waste) into free biogas for clean cooking and organic fertiliser for better crops and healthier soil.

For its efforts in sustainability and conservation, the Drawa Block Forest Communities Cooperative has received an Energy Globe Award for Fiji. With more than 180 participating countries, the Energy Globe Award a prestigious environmental award given annually to projects saving our environment.

In the space of 12 months, Mr Matia has worked hard to create a supportive environment for girls in the school.  The school now sells sanitary pads at the school canteen and emergency pads are available at the school office. The school toilet facilities were repaired and bins are now provided in the toilets for safe disposal of pads.

Live & Learn Solomon Islands has partnered with Care Australia for COVID-19 awareness and Tropical Cyclone Harold disaster recovery. Managing the two issues in tandem has meant improved sanitation and hygiene practices are being enforced in the areas affected by the cyclone. So far the activities done with Care include the distribution of soap and boxes of hygiene kits to eight communities.

In New Ireland Province Live & Learn has implemented COVID-19 training for eight schools, including establishing basic hand-washing facilities and providing soap. Awareness materials have been distributed around the capital Kavieng, at the local post office, police station, airport and in almost every shop in town. Posters and stickers were printed locally and 7 large banners have been displayed that discuss the importance of handwashing and social distancing. Live & Learn PNG has also been active on Facebook as part of this process, reaching more than 14,000 people with COVID-19 messages.