Clean Drinking Water and Thirsty Children—A Recipe for Happy School Days in French Polynesia

On 17 July 2025, a moment of gratitude and unity was shared at Ahiti te Ra Elementary School in Faaone, Tahiti, as a new water purification unit was officially inaugurated.

DOWNLOAD

This project was the result of a collaboration between the municipality of Taiarapu-Est and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The project represents a significant step forward in providing clean drinking water for children and educators in the area.

DOWNLOAD

The initiative began in April 2023 during a meeting between Church representatives and local leaders. Elder Graffe, a Church missionary, recalls, “We sat down with the mayor and discussed the needs of the community. One of those needs was providing safe drinking water for the children of Faaone.”

Mayor Anthony Jamet of Taiarapu-Est explained, “This project is part of a broader programme to equip all local schools with drinking water systems. This is the third school to receive one.

“The Church also supported another project — providing benches and desks for the school in Tautira.”

The event brought together local government representatives, technical experts, the school’s interim principal, and local Church leaders.

Attendees were invited to sample the freshly purified water, which is now housed in a secure shelter provided by the municipality.

For Maryscar Ynam-Lucas, a teacher with 25 years’ service in Faaone, the impact of the project is already being felt.

“This is a great blessing for the children, the teachers, and the school staff,” she said.

 We used to have to order large bottles of water. Now, this is a real cost-saving solution and a big step forward.”

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to work with communities to bring relief, dignity, and lasting change, expressing the love of God through tangible acts of service.