Talitha Project opens new "Drop-in" centre for girls

Congratulations to Vanessa Heleta for spearheading this initiative. Malo lahi to the supporters of this much needed facility, the Australian High Commission and UN Women. From the headlines of the stories on Matangi Tonga and other media outlets, it is obvious that violence against women and children is a huge problem in Tonga. Denial and judgemental prescriptions does not work This is a much needed facility. We need to listen more to young people and especially young women so we can better understand the problems they are facing in the rapidly changing world they are living in. Leave judgements to God and get on with working together with our youth, especially young women and those most affected by the consequences of violence. In a safe space, we can establish trust and respect and have a better environment to talk more openly to develop solutions for the problems we have to deal with.