Welcome to the number one site for information on Peace Corps Tonga! If you want to volunteer in Tonga, this is the perfect website for you. We will share the history of Peace Corps in Tonga. We will also describe what Tonga is like as a country. You can learn about the languages used there. You can also read about other volunteers’ time in Tonga. Here you can find information about safety and health. We will also give ways to contact former Peace Corps volunteers who served in Tonga. Get ready to find lots of useful information to help you decide if volunteering in Tonga is right for you!
Volunteers in Tonga work on projects in English (leave in June).
What is the History of Peace Corps in Tonga?
The Peace Corps has been working in Tonga since 1967, over 50 years! During that time, more than 1,500 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Tonga.
At first, Peace Corps Volunteers in Tonga taught English in schools. They helped train teachers too. Later on, the Peace Corps program in Tonga grew bigger. Volunteers started working in community health, the environment, and helping small businesses.
Nowadays, the main focus of the Peace Corps in Tonga is English literacy and education. Volunteers work together with local teachers. They help improve English by creating teaching materials and introducing better teaching methods. Volunteers also work on youth programs and building skills for local organizations.
Volunteers have still made a big impact in Tonga over the years. They have helped improve English skills, gotten communities more involved, and promoted practices that are good for the environment across Tonga’s islands.
What about Tonga as a nation?
Tonga is a country made up of 176 different islands in the Pacific Ocean. It is quite small, with only about 100,000 people living there. This makes Tonga one of the world’s tiniest independent nations.
The main islands are Tongatapu, where the capital city Nuku’alofa is, and the more remote Vava’u, Ha’apai, and Niuas islands. Tonga has been a kingdom since the 1600s.
Tonga’s economy relies a lot on agriculture, fishing, and tourism. Many Tongans also get money sent home from relatives living abroad. Most people in Tonga are ethnically Polynesian and Christian.
Tongans take pride in their monarchy, village farming traditions, and cultural practices. However, Tonga faces challenges too. More people are moving to cities, resources are limited, and the islands can get hit by big storms and rising sea levels.
While keeping its unique Pacific island culture, Tonga also has close ties with New Zealand, Australia, and other nearby nations. Tonga wants to preserve its heritage but also adapt to globalization and climate change affecting the islands.
What languages do they speak in Tonga?
The main languages that people speak in Tonga are Tongan and English.
Tongan is the native language of the Tongan people. It is spoken by most Tongans as their first language. Tongan is similar to other Polynesian languages.
English is also very commonly spoken in Tonga, especially in schools and businesses. It is taught as a second language that Tongan students learn. Many Tongans, especially younger people, can speak both Tongan and English fluently.
While Tongan is considered the national language, English is important too. It acts as a common language that allows people to communicate across Tonga and with other English-speaking countries.
During their service in Tonga, Peace Corps volunteers learn to speak Tongan.
How safe is it serve as a volunteer in Tonga?
In general, 93% of volunteers felt safe or very safe where they lived in Tonga. And 98% felt safe or very safe where they worked. 9% of volunteers early terminated mostly due to resignation. But more detailed information about safety compared to other Peace Corps countries can be found in the Tonga Crime, Harassment, and Early Termination of Service Data.
Most of the medical problems seen in Tonga are also found in the United States, such as colds, diarrhea, skin infections, headaches, minor injuries, sexually transmitted infections, adjustment disorders, and emotional problems. For Volunteers, these problems may be more frequent or compounded by life in Tonga because local factors raise the risk of or exacerbate the severity of certain illnesses. The medical problems specific to Tonga are:
- typhoid
- dengue fever
- Hepatitis A and B
- measles
- tuberculosis
- diarrhea
- skin infections
- dental problems
- headaches
- respiratory infections
- minor injuries
- STIs
Health problems also can result from local environmental factors, such as dust, humidity, insects, and disease-producing microorganisms.
But more detailed information about health related issues at Peace Corps Tonga can be found in the Tonga Health and Medical Care Summary.
What do volunteers think of serving in Tonga?
Since 1975, the Annual Volunteer Survey has been a source of information on the state of the Peace Corps (PC) program for the agency, Congress, researchers, the media, and the general public. In 2019, 93% of volunteers found their overall Peace Corps service rewarding or very rewarding. 87% of volunteers would still make the same decision to serve with the Peace Corps today. 91% of volunteers would recommend Peace Corps service to others. More information can be found in the Tonga Annual Volunteer Survey Satisfaction Results.
Where can I learn more about PC Tonga volunteer experiences?
PCV blogs and YouTube channels offer a unique look into the daily life of volunteers serving in Tonga. These blogs and channels can help you understand the challenges and triumphs that come with being a volunteer. Explore these links for inspiring stories and practical advice from current and past volunteers.
Blog and YouTube Channel Links:
If you’re interested in learning more about serving in Tonga, I’ve got you covered! Click here to see all of my posts about Peace Corps Tonga with details on the experience, culture, food, packing tips, and more.
How can I connect with Returned PCVs who served in Tonga?
And where can I find official information about Peace Corps Tonga?
- PeaceCorps.gov/Tonga
- Projects in Tonga
- Stories from Tonga
- Preparing to Volunteer
- Living Conditions
- Training
- Health
- Safety and Security
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Packing Guidance
This is a PC publication called “The Peace Corps Welcomes You to Tonga“, published in 2015. In the past, before the internet, this is how volunteers learned more about Tonga. Even though it is many years old, there is still a lot of good information there. You can download it here but remember it is just for informational purposes. For up-to-date information, always check with you Peace Corps contacts and staff.
Conclusion:
This blog post gave you lots of useful information to help decide if Tonga is a good place for you to volunteer. You learned about Guyanese culture, languages, and development. We discussed important safety and health considerations for volunteers too. Also, we provided ways to contact former Peace Corps volunteers who served in Tonga. To get more information about Peace Corps Tonga, visit their website or explore the resources provided here. We hope this post has aided your search for information about volunteering with Peace Corps Tonga!
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Tonga Government.
