Kairuku District

This follows the recent launch of the Upi Kupuna Association aimed to enhance the quality of life for the villagers by being responsive to the needs, interests and priorities of the community.

The function of the associations is to promote the health, safety, common good and social welfare of the villagers, and open up links and establish networks to tap into more development projects and programs for the villagers.

Departments of Agriculture and Livestock and the Implementation and Rural Development (DIRD) helped the village form the association.

Most of their water wells are drying up and food gardens are not producing enough as food crops are dying out.

Lui Sileh from Pinu village said even the swamp located in the outskirts of the village does not have any more fish with the water level dropping.

“There was always enough fish from the swamp to last us for two days but now we catch enough for only one meal."

“Most of the villagers are now resorting to the big creek to find fish but it is also drying up."

Pinu Primary School in Pinu village is running fundraising activities as part of its preparations leading up to the big day.

The school students and village community aim to raise K5, 000 to stage the event.

They held a fundraising event this weekend and raised K2, 500 through selling food, playing volleyball games, dancing and raffle tickets.

Teacher Linda Sileh said they had just three weeks left to prepare for the anniversary and the students were  already practising their various activities for the day.