A group of university students from Warrane College in Sydney have volunteered to help rebuild a community hall and Catholic chapel at Longolongo.

The group of 22 people led by Arthur Escamilla arrived in Tonga on August 31 and will spend two weeks working alongside a local builder and members of the local community.

Warrane College has organized similar projects since the early 1980s and this is the fourth time they have travelled to Tonga and worked on similar projects.

Mr Escamilla said the university students paid their own trip and raised money to make a financial contribution for the reconstruction.

They were encouraged to take on this project by Tonga's Honorary Consul in Sydney, Louise Waterhouse.

Student, Dominic O'Brien said the locals had been very welcoming and friendly.

Warrane partnered with Reledev Australia Ltd, an Australian NGO and the Catholic Diocese of Tonga supported by HE Cardinal Mafi.

The Longolongo community hall and chapel were destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Gita last year.

The group are expected to depart Tonga on September 14.