“ACCESS TO WATER ALSO BRINGS HAPPINESS TO THE COMMUNITY”
For many years, the people of Vaviquinia village in Maubara Administrative Post, Liquiça Municipality, have struggled with limited access to clean and safe water. The long distance to the nearest water source forced women, children, youth, and the elderly to spend hours every day fetching water.
CVTL Liquiça Branch Coordinator, Mr. Cesar da Silva Bruno, explained that CVTL successfully implemented a water supply system for the community, serving four sub-villages: Nunu Ana, Pametapu, Darulara, and Lebu Meta. The project benefits 1,298 community members in 353 households by bringing clean water from a spring located 361 meters away directly to the community.
This initiative began with a formal proposal submitted by community leaders and village chiefs. The Liquiça Branch consulted with the CVTL National Office in 2019, but at that time, there was no available donor. Despite the challenge, CVTL continued to advocate for support.
In 2025, after many years of effort, CVTL finally received funding from the Government of Timor-Leste through the Office of Support to Civil Society (GASC), allowing the long-awaited project to begin.
According to Mr. da Silva Bruno, the CVTL program in Vaviquina includes the construction of the water supply system and integrates additional components such as basic health training, disaster preparedness sessions, information on savings groups and loans, livestock production activities, and guidance on water management and responsible water use. He emphasized the important role of the Facility Management Group (GMF), which will be responsible for managing and maintaining the water system in the years to come.
Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Benancio Beremeta, explained that the duration of the project was five months (May–September 2025). “Although the time is short, as the head of the team, I work closely with the community to ensure the construction of six (6) tanks and eight (8) taps across the four villages: Nunu Ana, Pametapu, Darulara, and Lebu Meta.
As Chief Technical Officer, I am committed to ensuring all tanks are built to high quality,” he said.
The head of Nunu Ana Village, Mr. Mariano Gomes do Santos, described the community’s long-standing struggle:
“For many years, the community lived with limited access to clean and safe water. Women, the elderly, youth, and children suffered the most. Every morning and afternoon, people had to fight for water to drink and cook. As a leader, this made me very sad.”
“Since 6 November 2025, everything has changed. With CVTL’s support, clean water is now at the community’s doorstep. People spend less time fetching water and more time earning income. This brings dignity, good hygiene, and happiness—especially for the elderly and their caregivers.”
With clean water now available near their homes, the people of Vaviquina enjoy improved hygiene, better health, and a higher quality of life. The new water system has brought comfort, dignity, and happiness to the entire community. This achievement reflects CVTL’s strong commitment to supporting vulnerable communities throughout Timor-Leste with sustainable solutions for water, sanitation, and community resilience.
Ms. Arminda Barreto, aged 72, shared her difficult experience before the water system was established:
“I want to speak from my heart. For many years, my life was filled with sadness. Every day, just to get water to drink and cook, I had to walk a long distance. At my age, it is very difficult. I often felt tired and worried, especially in the summer when the land is dry, and the water dries up.
During the rainy season, my grandchildren and I often caught colds and stomach aches because we used rainwater for cooking and drinking, which made the children sick. Not only did I suffer, but other families in Vaviquina also felt the same sadness, because we lived high in the mountains while the water was far below us.
Now, with CVTL’s support and the new water system, everything has changed. Water is close to my house, and I feel peaceful, happy, and safe. I no longer have to walk far to fetch water.
Thank you to CVTL for bringing water to my home. We, the community of Vaviquina, are very grateful for your presence. It is not only your responsibility—it is ours too. Thank you, CVTL.”
