Patricia's story, Solomon Islands
14-year-old Patricia lives in a remote village on the island of Malaita in Solomon Islands. She once spent hours collecting water, making school difficult. With easier access to clean water, her life has improved, and she hopes to return to school and become a teacher.
Patricia carrying a bucket of water home to her village in Solomon Islands. Photo: Caritas Australia
Patricia (centre) with her family outside their family home. Photo: Caritas Australia
Like many first-born daughters, Patricia has always helped shoulder responsibilities at home.
Every day, she supports her family by collecting firewood, grating coconuts, preparing food and caring for her younger siblings.
But until recently, one chore consumed hours of her day and left her too exhausted to think about her future: collecting water.
Before a new water system was installed outside her home, Patricia and her mother had to walk long distances to collect water for their family.
The journey was not easy. The nearest water source was far from home, in a dense and hilly rainforest that is home to poisonous snakes. Because families from surrounding communities relied on the same water source, there were often long queues. Some days, Patricia and her mother would spend hours walking and waiting just to fill their buckets.
The burden of collecting water affected many aspects of Patricia's life, including her education. After spending hours walking and carrying water, she often returned home completely exhausted.
I had to carry very heavy buckets and containers over a long distance, It was really hard."
On average, collecting water took around two hours every day.
The journey to clean water has been a long struggle for many communities in the Malaita province in the Solomon Islands. According to the World Bank (2024) at least 28% of the population in Solomon Islands – more than 1 in 4 people – do not have access to basic drinking water services and 65% do not have access to basic sanitation services.
The Common Home project, run in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Auki, aims to improve access to water, hygiene and sanitation. The project works with communities to rehabilitate gravity-fed water systems and construct sanitation facilities. It also focuses on building pit latrines and handwash stations to improve sanitation in the community, as well as training to promote hygiene and eliminate open defecation.
A water tap now stands just metres from Patricia's family's home. Instead of walking long distances every day, Patricia can collect water quickly and safely. Her family can now access clean water whenever they need it.
Patricia washing hands using a new water tap outside her home. Photo: Caritas Australia
Patricia plans to return to school in 2027. Photo: Caritas Australia
"Our family is very helped by the new water supply," Patricia says. "We can easily drink clean water, so we don't get sick."
The hours previously spent collecting water have been returned to families, creating more time for rest, household activities and education.
For Patricia, that extra time has opened the door for her to return to school next year.
Although she admits she once felt she didn't want to go, she now looks forward to learning alongside other children. She wants to make friends, learn to read and write, and gain the education she needs to build a brighter future.
"I want to learn how to write," she says. "I want to learn how to read too. I want to be taught by the teacher."
When asked what she hopes to become one day, Patricia says that she wants to become a teacher, like her father.
Your donation can help
A new water tap outside Patricia's home. Photo: Caritas Australia
Install clean water taps in remote villages
Patricia sitting outside her home in Solomon Islands. Photo: Caritas Australia
Provide hygiene kits for children
Fr Clement testing out the new water system in his village. Photo: Caritas Australia
Go towards a piped water system that can benefit an entire community
