Talakali Adventist Primary School in Malaita receives a new ablution block funded by the Australian Government through Disaster READY.
After many years without proper permanent sanitation facilities, Talakali Adventist Primary School (TAPS) in Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province, have taken ownership of a newly completed ablution block.
The new ablution block was funded by the Government of Australia through the Disaster READY project. Disaster READY is supported by the Australian Government and implemented by the Church Agency Network Disaster Operation (CANDO) Consortium and implemented by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Solomon Islands.
The handover ceremony was conducted on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, with CANDO Solomon Islands Coordinator, Mr Dominic Baoni, officially handing over the facility to the Talakali Adventist Primary School administration.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Deputy Premier and Acting Premier of Malaita Province, Randol Sifoni; ADRA CANDO Project Manager, Mr Raynick Jack; school staff; and members of the Talakali community.
The ablution block features two toilets for male students and two toilet facilities including shower facilities for females, including a ramp from the school building to the sanitation block. These facilities will serve both the Primary students, community and the school during disasters.
The Talakali School has been also designated as an Evacuation Center for the community during disasters, and the new sanitation facilities will be critical during such times.
The new facility would improve access to proper sanitation for students and support a cleaner, healthier and safer learning environment at the school.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony of the facility, Church Agency Network Disaster Operation (CANDO) Coordinator, Mr Dominic Baoni, urged the school administration and community to take good care of the new ablution block to ensure it continues to serve the school and community for years to come.
“Please look after this facility and establish rules and a cleaning schedule for students to follow to ensure the facility remains clean and well maintained,” Mr Baoni said.
He further emphasised that the school administration had been entrusted with the responsibility of managing and maintaining the facility properly.
“The school administration is now entrusted with the responsibility of looking after this facility. Please take good care of it and ensure it continues to serve the school and the community,” Mr Baoni said.
Meanwhile, Talakali Adventist Primary School Headmaster, Mr Warren Steven, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Australia, CANDO and ADRA Solomon Islands for their support and successful implementation of the project.
“On behalf of the school, I would like to thank you for your support and funding towards this ablution block. Without CANDO and ADRA, our school and community would not have such a facility. We sincerely thank you for making this possible,” Mr Steven said.
Mr Steven further revealed that the new ablution block was the first sanitation facility specifically provided for the primary school students, who previously had limited access to proper toilet facilities.
“I would like to reveal here that we did not have an ablution block for our primary students. They had to use the nearby bushes or, at times, the staff sanitation facilities,” he said.
He added that the new ablution block would give students their first opportunity to use proper toilet facilities at the school. The school administration would also teach students how to use and maintain the facilities correctly, helping them develop good sanitation and hygiene
practices.
“This new ablution block will allow our students, for the first time, to use proper toilet facilities. We will teach them how to use the toilets properly because this is a new experience for many of our students,” Mr Steven said.
ADRA CANDO Project Manager, Raynick Jack, also thanked the Talakali community and school for their close collaboration throughout the implementation of the project.
“Thank you to the Talakali community and school for our close collaboration and teamwork throughout the implementation of this project. Today, we celebrated the successful partnership between ADRA, CANDO, the school and the community,” Mr Jack said.
“We are happy to celebrate this achievement together, which reflects our strong working relationship and will benefit both the school and the wider community. Please take good care of these facilities to ensure it continue to serve its intended purpose for many years to come,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Premier and Acting Premier of Malaita Province, Randol Sifoni, thanked the Government of Australia, CANDO and ADRA Solomon Islands for their strong partnership and coordinated efforts in successfully delivering the sanitation project in Malaita Province.
“On behalf of the Malaita Provincial Government, I extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Australia, CANDO and ADRA Solomon Islands for their support, partnership and commitment to improving the wellbeing of our schools and communities,” Sifoni said.
He further highlighted the importance of partnerships in addressing the essential needs of people, particularly those living in rural communities where access to basic facilities and services remains a challenge.
“Your contributions demonstrate the importance of working together to address the everyday needs of our people, particularly in rural communities where access to essential facilities can be challenging,” said Hon. Sifoni, who was the guest speaker at the handover ceremony.
SOURCE// ADRA CANDO PRESS RELEASE
