Trauma response offers evacuated Tongan children “a sense of hope and looking forward” [1]
Friday, January 28, 2022 - 23:36. Updated on Friday, January 28, 2022 - 23:39.
“Sometimes starting over again is a blessing as well. You get to reorder your life and restructure your life and also prioritize what is the most important thing in your life... it’s time for us to invest in our children,” says Vanessa Heleta, Talitha Project Founder and Executive Director.
by Eleanor Gee
Around 95 children and youths, among the families evacuated from ‘Atata Island after the tsunamis destroyed their homes on Saturday Jan. 15, are currently staying at a Church Hall in Kolomotu'a, Nuku'alofa and also at a Hofoa evacuation station.
This week volunteers have been spending time with the children and organising creative activities for them and providing food.
“Everyone is going through different trauma. On the radio, I always hear them get people to ring in so they can express themselves. But that’s only for the adults, we don’t have any space for the kids to express themselves,” said Vanessa Heleta, Founder and Executive Director of the Talitha Project, an NGO that supports leadership development among young women, girls and youths.
Vanessa told Matangi Tonga that her team were providing food and goods to people and the children that have been evacuated from the outer islands, starting with those from ‘Atata Island. The community has been split into different church groups with Church of Tonga and some LDS at Kolomotu'a, while the FWC are at the Hofoa evacuation station.
‘Atata is one of the small islands off Tongatapu. The island is about 50 km away from the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcano. Some of the youths spend their week in Nuku'alofa going to school and go home at the weekends. The tsunamis caused by the eruption destroyed
On Thursday they delivered a range of creative materials, and sports equipment worth $2,000 donated from the Talitha Project for 44 children at the Kolomotua hall. They bought colouring books, colour pencils, crayons, drawing pads and games to help the children deal with the traumatic event.
“And not all kids will express themselves verbally, they will express themselves through drawing and games and stuff like that.”
Vanessa said that by coming here, the children will know that they are loved and they are valued during this time.
“And also, it’s important to protect their dignity as well, during times like this. They look around and they may feel left out.”
Vanessa said the parent’s minds have been impacted because they lost everything.
“It’s a new beginning so the parents are thinking of how to start their new life and they have no time to encourage their children right now.”
Giving a sense of hope
“So, we are just here to give them some sense of hope and looking forward. Sometimes starting over again is a blessing as well. You get to reorder your life and restructure your life and also prioritize what is the most important thing in your life. Plus, we always prioritize the family obligations like funerals etc., while they neglect the most important thing, like spending time with their children.”
She urged parents to spend quality time and invest in their children’s lives.
“This is the time to really structure our lives, all of Tonga. And our children are the most precious thing in our lives and it’s time for us to invest in our children.”
The Talitha Project team will visit more of the ‘Atata people staying at another church hall at Hofoa today, at around 6:00pm.
Next week, they will also visit people who were evacuated from the other islands such as Fonoifua and Mango Islands.
The team will also use this time to talk to, encourage and help build confidence in the youth from these islands to grow and lead.
Vanessa was part of the rapid initial assessment team on Tongatapu, working with NEMO and other partners, starting on Monday Jan. 17, to produce preliminary findings on the impact of the unprecedented disaster for Tonga of the eruption and tsunamis.
Talitha Project is working with Action Aid under the Shifting the Power Coalition to support Pacific Women’s Leadership in responding to Climate Change and Disasters.
Talitha is also supported by CARE Australia to distribute tarpaulins and hygiene kits to girls and vulnerable groups.