The Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) volunteer program, known as (JOCV) Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers, celebrated 50 years of service in Tonga on 23 November, with a function at the Tanoa Hotel.

A total of 568 volunteers have served in Tonga, and four volunteers are currently in-country.

Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Samiu Vaipulu acknowledged JOCV and its various contributions to Tongan institutions at the grassroots level, that had played an important part in the promotion of friendly relations between Tonga and Japan.

JOCV supports activities by citizens who volunteer with high aspirations and appropriate skills, to cooperate in the economic and social development, as well as the reconstruction of developing countries.

Senior Vice President of JICA, Ms. Katsura Miyazaki spoke about the JOCVs' contributions to Tonga, including the teaching of abacus, as a required elementary school math class, and the Japanese language as an official high school second foreign language elective.

She also noted that the deployment of the JOCV had contributed to the deepening of bilateral relations between Tonga and Japan, referring to support activities of the ex-JOCV members following the eruption of the HTHH volcano in January of last year.

The Japanese Ambassador to Tonga, H.E. Kensaku Munenaga noted that the JOCV are "grassroots diplomats in Tonga" and had a longer history than the establishment of the Embassy (2009) and higher profile in Tonga, and that both the Prime Minister and the Tongan Ambassador to Japan had been once the students of a JOCV member in their high school days.

Meanwhile, in Japan, more than 60 members gathered and participated in celebration of this event, mainly ex-JOCV’s, their families, and some Tongans living in Japan.

They inaugurated the "Tonga ex-JOCV Association", with Ms. Chimoto Fukagawa voted as the Chairperson.

She was a Mathematics teacher at Tonga High School from 1987-89.

First volunteer in 1973

JOCV's first volunteer was dispatched to Tupou College in March 1973, in the field of agricultural machinery.

Throughout the 1970’s, JOCVs were dispatched mainly to the fisheries sector. Since then, the program slowly expanded over the years to various fields including education, agriculture/forestry, Japanese language education, medical services, health care and social welfare, manufacturing/energy sector, public Works/utilities, administration/business/tourism and sports.

A total of 568 volunteers have served in Tonga, and four volunteers are currently in-country.