Newlyweds say 'I do' to island aid project

Emilie Vallee and Ahmed Elwan asked wedding guests to donate to their Vanuatu water pump fundraiser.

A newly married Muslim couple are sharing their wedding gifts with the people of Vanuatu, hoping to set up a sustainable water pump in a remote island village.

Emilie Vallee and Ahmed Elwan were married in a ceremony on Saturday that coincided with Eid Al Fitr, the Muslim feast marking the end of Ramadan.

Around 300 guests were there to witness the pair get married at the Community Leisure Centre in Palmerston North.

The couple, who met while studying at Massey University, chose to forgo the traditional gift registry and instead asked guests who wanted to give them a gift to donate to their fundraising efforts.

The money raised will be used to build a water pump for the Ikeupow village, on Tanna, Vanuatu.

Emilie Vallee, a vet who comes from France, said according to their faith water was the "best type of charity that could be given".

Villagers on Tanna Island in Vanuatu make use of a new water pump installed by Unicef.

So far on the Givealittle page they have raised more than $2500 - still significantly less than the $17,000 they hope to raise.

Any money raised will go to Unicef to be used for building the water pump.

Unicef communications director Patrick Rose said it was part of an overall project providing sustainable water supply in Vanuatu in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Givealittle page is open for donations until Sunday. Click here to donate.