In the first step in the collaboration, Village to Village has provided funding to support UNICEF's partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, bringing clean water and sanitation to a school in the Solomon Islands.
The first set of facilities is sponsored by Alapa Viticultural Services Limited, as a commitment to supporting Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) scheme workers and their communities back home.
"We rely on our RSE workers do the hard, physical work that keeps our industry going," says General Manager Joe Walker. "Without them, the vines would go unpruned and grapes unharvested. This is our way to say thank you to them, and also their families and communities back home in the Pacific, for the vital role they play in supporting both our industry and our wider community."
The initiative is part of Village to Village's broader aim to acknowledge the contribution and sacrifice RSE workers from the Pacific Islands make for the success of New Zealand's Viticulture and Horticulture industries.
"We are very grateful to Alapa for coming on board and leading the way," says Village to Village Chair Tracy Atkin. "We would love to see other businesses and organisations with connections to RSE workers join us in expanding this impact."
