Projects in Tonga

Education

Right now is a pivotal moment to serve in Tonga. Peace Corps Volunteers have the opportunity to make a lasting impact on students, teachers, and their communities. The country is going through educational transformation with an authentically Tongan vision to drive quality and relevant education outcomes for all learners through collaboration. The Ministry of Education and Training and the Peace Corps have built a strong partnership focused on improving English language learning outcomes at the primary and middle school levels. English is a national priority and Peace Corps is a close development partner working to increase student achievement.

The English Language Development Project focuses on improving student achievement in English to help them gain access to academic and professional opportunities. Moreover, the project promotes inclusive and equitable education and, through enhancing interactive teaching practices, aims to develop students into lifelong learners.

As English Language Teachers and Facilitators, Volunteers play multiple roles in English language development:

Strengthen teacher capacity

Volunteers work with local teachers to increase their skills in general education and English teaching. Volunteers facilitate discussions and sessions on effective teaching strategies and tips. They identify best practices and areas for improvement in student-centered teaching methods, lesson planning, assessments, and inclusive education. Supporting these foundations, Volunteers engage in model teaching, peer observations, developing learning materials, and bridging the English language capacity of teachers in the classroom.

Improve student achievement in English

Volunteers teach oral and written English to elementary and middle school students in a classroom setting. They organize and facilitate extracurricular activities and events to improve language skills and proficiency. This may include pull-out groups, tutoring, small-group test preparation, events, clubs and camps. English is also promoted through drama, art, sports, reading, and other recreational activities.

Enhance learning environment

Volunteers co-plan and co-facilitate activities that increase the ability of community members to support student access to learning. Activities include school fundraisers, contests, event planning, and home visits to involve parents in their children’s education and encourage parents to make time for continual learning.

Volunteers also engage in community development work to mobilize local leaders in the community and address community needs through local resources. Volunteers are trained to utilize participatory tools in a phased approach to cooperative and collective community action. Community activities may include:

1. Facilitating youth camps or clubs on life skills development and leadership.
2. Organizing and facilitating school-led improvement projects, such as library/learning center development and management.
3. Organizing and facilitating community-led projects related to environmental awareness, community resilience, and disaster risk reduction.

Moreover, Volunteers take part in Tongan and American cultural exchange. Cultural understanding and intercultural engagement are key competencies to a successful Peace Corps service and not only enrich the collaboration between the Volunteer and partners but ensure a more sustainable impact.

Environment

Tonga is one of the countries most exposed to natural disasters, with particular exposure and vulnerability to cyclones, tsunamis, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and droughts. Emerging environmental issues will most likely result in more variability in risk management. The increasing intensity and variability of natural disasters in the region makes mitigating and managing future disasters more complex.

Local communities are at the frontlines of these impacts and seek to adapt and become more resilient. Tonga has taken measures to prioritize the roles of communities in developing and implementing their own environmental adaptation and resilience plans; however, communities are in need of knowledge, guidance, and support to mobilize local resources to implement these plans. Peace Corps Environment Volunteers will be community-based and engage with community members to strengthen the environmental adaption and resilience capacities of communities around Tonga.

Volunteers will play multiple roles during their service. Volunteers and their partners will be trained to utilize participatory tools in a phased, asset-based approach to uncover existing strengths, advantages, and opportunities:

Increase awareness of the environment and environmental issues

Volunteers co-design and co-develop environmental awareness activities and conduct field-based instruction on locally relevant environmental issues. They co-train, co-teach, and co-facilitate environmental education lessons in schools and communities that increase knowledge of local environmental impacts, local disaster risk reduction and preparedness efforts, and appreciation and conservation of the environment. This includes co-planning and co-facilitating environmental education clubs and camps with youth.

Assess, plan for, and implement nature-based solutions

Volunteers co-facilitate participatory community-level environmental risk assessments and collaborate with local leaders to co-create action plans for adaptation and mitigation. They also support community groups and local authorities to ensure these action plans align with national strategies and reflect local development priorities. In partnership with local authorities, community-based organizations, and civil society groups, Volunteers support community members to implement relevant, nature-based solutions to address the environmental risks identified and prioritized. Adaptation and mitigation measures may include guiding communities and schools on best practices for responsible management and use of the ocean, waste management, sustainable agricultural and ago-forestry practices, practices, and environmental conservation.

Strengthen disaster risk management capacity and mitigation efforts

Volunteers co-facilitate educational activities with schools and other community partners to strengthen awareness of local disaster preparedness, prevention, and response efforts at the island-group or national level. Activities may include co-facilitating community meetings to share existing disaster response plans, co-facilitating drills in schools or community centers, and co-training local leaders on available disaster preparedness and risk management resources. Drawing on local knowledge and best practices, Volunteers may collaborate with partners to co-design and co-deliver disaster risk reduction trainings and support the development of local emergency action plans or risk management plans, where none exist.