JICA Tonga Office

📌 Staff Blog【Life of a JICA staff member overseas 🇹🇴 Tonga】

The Kingdom of Tonga,
a beautiful country made up of islands in the South Pacific 🏝️

It’s been four months since she was assigned here
as a JICA overseas staff member…

While keeping busy with her daily work,
she shares the little surprises of life here,
the depth of the local culture,
and the peaceful, laid-back lifestyle✒️
https://www.jica.go.jp/english/information/blog/1579711_24156.html

Yesterday, our friends had a wonderful time getting creative and making their own jewelry at Vavaʻu Public Library! ✨📿

Activities like these are a great way for children to express themselves, learn new skills, and have fun together in a welcoming environment 😀

Thank you to everyone who joined us—we loved seeing your creativity shine! We look forward to many more fun afternoons of learning, crafting, and making memories at the library ❤️

🌺A Day of Cultural Immersion at Ancient Tonga🌺

Today, four of our new Volunteers had the incredible opportunity to take part in a Tongan cultural orientation at Ancient Tonga—a truly enriching experience that brought them closer to the traditions, knowledge, and spirit of Tonga.

🔥 Fei ‘Umu (Traditional Earth Oven)
They started the day by making ‘umu (earth oven), working as a team to prepare this unique cooking style by heating the stones first and carefully arrange the food. It was a powerful reminder of how food preparation in Tonga goes beyond cooking—it’s about community and connection.

🍲 Preparing Traditional Dishes – Lu Moa & ‘Ota Ika
From fresh ingredients to hands-on preparation, they learned how to make lu moa (chicken wrapped in taro leaves and cooked in coconut cream) and ‘ota ika (raw fish marinated in coconut and veggies). Every step was filled with meaning, showcasing the richness of Tongan cuisine and hospitality.

🥥 The Meaning of Kava & Kava Ceremony
They were also honored to learn about the cultural significance of kava—more than just a drink, it represents respect, unity, and tradition. Understanding the kava ceremony gave them deeper insight into Tongan values, hierarchy, and community bonds.

🧵 Weaving (Lālanga)
Guided by experts, the volunteers experienced weaving first-hand—an art form that requires patience, skill, and deep cultural understanding. Each weave reflects stories of family, identity, and tradition.

🌿 Making Tapa Cloth (Ngatu)
They also experienced the process of making ngatu (tapa cloth)—from pounding the bark to creating beautiful patterns and drawing. It was inspiring to witness how this practice preserves history and cultural expression.

🌱 Tongan Traditional Medicine
Another highlight was learning about Tongan traditional medicine, where natural plants are used for healing. This shared knowledge showed them the deep relationship between people, nature, and wellbeing.

👕Tongan Traditional handicraft
Also, they had the opportunity to learn how to make handwoven mats, kie-kie, and ta’ovala using a variety of natural materials. It was a fascinating experience to see how these traditional items are crafted with such skill and care.

✨ Today was more than just a learning experience—it was a meaningful journey into the heart of Tongan culture, filled with respect, gratitude, and connection.
A heartfelt mālō ‘aupito to the wonderful team at Ancient Tonga for sharing your knowledge, traditions, and warm hospitality with us. A glimpse of the Tongan culture will be treasured throughout their assignment term here in Tonga 💛

Tonga U12 football tournament encourages early development Nuku'alofa, Tonga: The Tonga Under-12 football tournament for boys and girls teams competing in grassroots matches, a sporting initiative aimed at early skills development for the players, was held at Veitongo on Saturday 23 May 2026.

🌟 Welcoming New Volunteers! 🌟

We’re excited to introduce our amazing new volunteers who are joining our team! 🎉 Each of them brings fresh energy, skills, and passion, and we’re thrilled to have them on board.

Our new volunteers will be supporting key areas including:
🍃 MAFF–Helping advance veterinary practice

Japanese Language – Helping promote language learning and cultural exchange

🏓 Table Tennis – Encouraging fun, teamwork, and active participation

Their dedication will make a real difference, and we can’t wait to see the impact they’ll have across these programs. 💪✨

Please join us in giving them a warm welcome! 👏💙

Building a Safer School Community Through Disaster Preparedness

With the generous support of the Supporting Organization of the Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) in Saga, in partnership with the Terra People Association and TOYO University, Tonga High School successfully conducted an
evacuation drill on 30 April, in collaboration with the National Disaster Risk Management Office (NDRMO).
This activity forms part of Tonga High School’s ongoing commitment to enhancing disaster preparedness among both students and staff. Through regular workshops, disaster-prevention activities, and structured discussions, the school continues to
promote awareness and practical readiness.
Working closely with Japanese disaster risk reduction specialists, evacuation routes were carefully reviewed, drills were thoroughly planned, and disaster-prevention information leaflets, developed in alignment with Ministry of Education and Training guidelines, were used to support student learning and guidance.
Approximately 1,400 students participated in the drill, gaining valuable hands-on experience and essential knowledge. It is hoped that the skills and awareness developed through this initiative will extend beyond the school environment, contributing to stronger disaster preparedness within families and communities across Tonga.
Together, we remain committed to building a safer, more resilient future.

END.

Malo e lelei!

トンガの廃棄物公社であるWAL（Waste Authority Limited）に環境教育隊員として派遣されていた茶山直人です。
もうすぐ2024年から2年間にわたる私の任期が終了します。トンガでの活動を支えてくださった皆さまへ、これまでの取り組みを振り返りながら感謝をお伝えしたいと思います。

◆ これまでの活動紹介◆

ゴミ最終処分場でのスクールプログラム
地元の子供たちを対象に、タプハ最終処分場での見学・学習プログラムを行いました。実際にゴミが運ばれてくる「現場」を見てもらうことで、ゴミを減らすことの切実さを肌で感じてもらう機会となりました。
ピースコープ（アメリカ平和部隊）との共同プロジェクト
他国のボランティア団体と連携し、公共スペースへのゴミ箱設置プロジェクトなどを実施しました。異なる背景を持つパートナーと協力することで、多角的な視点から環境課題へアプローチすることができました。
イベントへのブース出展
地域のイベントへ積極的に出展し、来場者へ環境啓発を行いました。対面での対話を通じて、ゴミ問題が自分たちの生活に直結していることを伝え、コミュニティ全体の意識向上に努めました。
◆ 活動を終えての振り返り ◆

2年間の活動を通じて、多くの方に環境への関心を持ってもらうことができました。一方で、意識の向上を「ゴミを出さない・分ける」という具体的な行動へ定着させるには、今後も粘り強い教育と社会システムの整備が必要です。
トンガでの経験は私にとってかけがえのない財産となりました。関わってくださったWALの同僚、地域の皆さま、本当にありがとうございました！

Malo e lelei! I am Naoto Sayama, a JICA Volunteer for Environmental Education dispatched to Tonga's Waste Authority Limited (WAL).
My two-year assignment, which began in 2024, will be ending very soon. I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported my activities here in Tonga, while taking a look back at our initiatives.

◆ Overview of Activities ◆

School Programs at the Tapuhia Landfill
I organized educational tours and programs at the Tapuhia Landfill for local children. By having them see the "front lines" where waste is actually brought in, it provided an opportunity for them to feel firsthand the pressing need to reduce waste.

Collaborative Project with the Peace Corps
In coordination with another international volunteer organization, we implemented projects such as installing waste bins in public spaces. Cooperating with partners from different backgrounds allowed us to approach environmental issues from multiple perspectives.

Event Booth Exhibitions
I actively set up booths at local events to promote environmental awareness among visitors. Through face-to-face dialogue, I communicated that waste issues are directly tied to our daily lives, striving to improve the awareness of the community as a whole.

◆ Reflection on the Mission ◆

Through these two years of activities, we were able to help many people take an interest in the environment. However, to translate this increased awareness into concrete actions like "reducing and sorting waste," persistent education and the continuous development of social systems will be necessary moving forward.

My experience in Tonga has become an invaluable asset to me. To my colleagues at WAL and everyone in the community who worked with me, thank you so much!

Malo 'aupito!

We extend our heartfelt thanks to JICA Volunteer TOSA Suzuka for her two years of dedicated service with MORDI Tonga. Throughout her time with us, Suzuka who became affectionately known as 'S**a' has contributed immensely, supporting seed processing initiatives, leading vegetable multiplication experiments, and offering her skills wherever needed.

Her commitment, strong work ethic, and willingness to engage across all areas of our work have made a lasting impact on both our team and the communities we serve. Above all, we deeply appreciate her humility and the genuine spirit with which she has carried out her role.

Mālō ‘aupito, Suzuka, for your invaluable contribution. You will always be part of the MORDI family. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors and know you have a home here in Tonga with us.