Children in Ta’anga, ‘Eua, are enjoying their new kindergarten that was rebuilt recently with the help of volunteers from Friends of Tonga [2], after it was destroyed by Tropical Cyclone Gita in 2018.

Friends of Tonga, a non-profit organization, was founded by returned Peace Corps volunteers, including Michael Hassett and his wife Chiara, in response to the devastation from the cyclone.

The couple met while volunteering in Tonga from 2012 – 2014 in Fahefa and Ta’anga. While they were on their honeymoon in Tonga in 2018, they were approached by the Ta’anga community asking for their help to rebuild the school.

“It was the only kindergarten on that side of the island. The local kindergarten teacher, Finau Tahi, had worked for eight years to build the kindergarten and finally got it running in 2017 and had only been in operation for a year before it was destroyed,” said Michael.

“The students were learning out of a UNICEF tent.”

Michael said they fundraised $40,000 over the past three years, in partnership with another non-profit, Schools for Children of the World.

Construction started in June 2020, by Tongan contractors and the Ta’anga community also helped provide labour for the building.

“We had engineers in Honduras guide the building, and Schools for Children of the World and Friends of Tonga managed the project from the United States.” 

This included Chiara working as the Friends of Tonga Program Manager from the US with the Program Manager in Tonga, Tu’amelie Mahe (who was Principal of GPS Ta’anga).

“We could not have completed this project without him and his leadership on the ground.”

“I am pleased to say that we have officially completed the construction of the Ta’anga kindergarten, despite Covid-19,” Michael said.

The kindergarten opened on June 16.

Michael said this project has been a tremendous achievement and other villages have already asked if we could assist in building kindergartens in their communities. 

“We hope to continue supporting Tongan communities and supporting the educational goals of students and teachers.”