The Vava’u Community Trust (VCT), is registered under the Charitable Trusts Act 2015, Kingdom of Tonga, was founded to help address multiple community needs. Swimming, Sailing, and Water Safety: Vava’u and its environs are made up of many small inhabited islands where travel by boat between Neiafu and its many island communities is an essential part of the islanders’ lives. Economic restraints an
d lack of water safety instruction mean that many, many people travel on boats that are over-crowded, have little or no safety equipment aboard, and are operated by people who have little idea of marine safety. This has led to many boating accidents, often involving drownings. Instigating a program to address such issues, the VCT would become a key contributor not only to saving lives, but to ensuring that future generations have the necessary skills and knowledge to equip and handle their boats in a safe manner. Under the auspices of the Blue Water Sailing School, the VCT proposes to: provide water safety instruction; establish a sailing school; offer swimming instruction to Tongan youth and their families by qualified swim instructors; promote activities for Vava’u youth that foster and develop teamwork and trust, encourage youth to become leaders, and learn new skills under the guidance of professional tutors. These activities would not only benefit the community and help with safety concerns aboard local craft, but could lead to career pathways for youth in sailing, navigation, and boat building as well as careers in mechanics, and youth development. Such education will open opportunities for scholarships to marine colleges or careers aboard ships, tall ships, and super yachts and in sailing and marine tourism or any of the related industries.
2. Education: Education and personal connectedness in Vava’u suffers from a lack of school books and materials. The VCT has resolved to address this by providing assistance by providing free wiki foundation Wi-Fi apps to schools in the Vava’u area. This will be in the form of a hard drive with Wi-Fi (i.e. non-internet) access to install internet-in-a-box (IIAB) education apps onto students’ phones and tablets. VCT will help students earn scholarships, assist with school fees, loan laptops (for University students), purchase school uniforms, bags and books for families unable to pay for such items.
3. Youth Employment: Lack of opportunity in Vava’u creates hardships for youth as they reach employment age. This often causes them to search for jobs outside of the community and even in other countries, thus disrupting the family and the community itself. The VCT proposes to look into activities that will provide employment and help with environmental issues. These include, but are not limited to: beekeeping; earthworm farming; cooking oil filtering; a marine utility barge to be used for mooring block installation and servicing among other things; coconut processing; water tank cleaning; driver education; drone hire; CCTV installation; garden and home maintenance; and removing plastic rubbish from the marine environment.
4. Community Center: There are currently very limited prospects in terms of activities for youth in Vava’u. VCT initiatives will offer a platform for new activities under the guidance of qualified tutors so that young people can come together and learn skills that would otherwise not be available to them. This will go a long way in promoting inclusion, connectedness, leadership, and team building. A long term goal of the VCT is to apply for funding to create a much needed community center. It would house a gym and spaces to be made available to youth for activities such as music, fitness, cultural and performing arts, and other creative and sports-related endeavours. Spaces would also be available to rent for meetings and events at community, fund raising, or commercial rates. Operation will be in accordance with food safety requirements and promotion of healthy foods. VCT will partner with Tonga Health, Vava’u Disabilities Group, Vava’u Public Library, VVMRA (SAR), WCCC (Crisis Centre) and all government ministries as well as Zumba, netball, basketball, tennis, and church groups. Organization
A cadre of community members have volunteered as Trustees to form and support the VCT’s vision for Vava’u. Their combined experience along with that of a group of dedicated local volunteers will sustain the goals described above. Greg Just, the VCT’s founder, is a Tongan New Zealander and local businessman with a background in economics, banking, analyst, and IT. He is also a certified dive master and has thirty years of sailing experience. Aunofo Havea, a resident of Vava’u, has the most extensive sailing qualification of any Tongan woman and has sailed the Pacific on traditional craft as part of the Kalia Project. Calvin Shumaker is a resident youth development worker who has worked in both the USA and Samoa. Mela Funaki, an APTC graduate of Samoa’s Hospitality and Commercial Cookery program, Level IV, is a natural teacher due to her inquisitive nature. Her three years as an English DJ makes her excellently equipped to address any translation needs that may arise. Assets
Various marine assets have been assembled by the VCT under the control of the Vava’u Blue Water Sailing School. The VCT has acquired a J33 sail boat at a greatly discounted price from Chris Garcia. The Trustees have enlisted the skills of local volunteers to rehabilitate this vessel with the express purpose of using it as a training and mother vessel. It is currently moored in Neiafu Harbour. Nine Optimist dinghies and two Hobie catamarans have been donated by the Opua Business Association. They await shipping in Opua, New Zealand in a container (also provided by the VBWF) that will be used to store the boats in Vava’u and to conduct operations from.VCT owns two jet skis that were donated by Fetoko Adventures. An array of marine safety equipment has been donated by SY Loxley and other yachties over many years. Donations and Sponsorship
The Vava’u Community Trust is looking for donors and sponsors among local and overseas businesses and private individuals to assist with all aspects of its stated initiatives. We welcome any such assistance in the form of volunteering, or donation of goods, monies, or services. The VCT thanks potential donors, sponsors, and volunteers in advance and offers its assurances that all proceeds, monies, and assets donated will go directly into and/or be used by the community. All goods received will be used exclusively for the purposes for which they were donated. Accountability and transparency will be exercised by the VCT at all times and annual accounts will be posted on the Tongan Charities web site. For those overseas, please consider supporting this worthwhile educational, environmental, and vocational cause in Vava’u. These are particularly challenging times for youth in our community. The COVID 19 pandemic has all but eliminated tourism in Vava’u and restricted our families’ ability to work and travel, causing financial hardship and putting educational plans on hold and severely affecting our youth. Any donation in these troubled time will be welcome and appreciated. We are seeking assistance with a list of items that can be sent in the VCT container presently awaiting departure from Opua, NZ to Vava’u in 2021. If you are local, goods or donations can be given directly to a VCT Trustee by visiting Cafe Tropicana in Neiafu. If you are donating from New Zealand, Matson Shipping has agreed to discount freight to Vava’u. VCT is also working with the Ministry of Sports to have customs duty waived for the Blue Water Sailing School. Items requested are: binoculars; boathooks; fans (12 volt, 3 each), man over-board device; anchor and chain; running lights; anchor light; LED cabin lights; spot light; radar; VHF radio (on board); VHF radio (base); AIS transmitter and receiver; depth sounder; life jackets (self-inflating, 6 each); solar panels and controllers; wind generator and controller; deep cell batteries; charger/inverter unit (12 volt in, 240 volt out); marine plywood; mast rigging materials (misc hardware and Dyneema braid, various sizes); solar-powered ventilators; main sheet blocks and traveller; caulking; wind speed/direction instrument; weather station with barometer; bulkhead mount compasses (2 each); automatic bilge pump (12 volt); breaker panel (12 volt); deck hatch (to replace existing Lewmar); kayak(s); two-burner stove; fenders (6 each); tools (assorted), marine toilet; marine refrigerator. If you would like to donate any of the items listed or would like further information regarding the Vava’u Community Trust, please contact Greg Just at:
www.vavau.to/vct
[email protected]
www.vavau.to/bluewaterschool
[email protected]
phone +676 8812347 or +676 71322
Malo Aupito,
Vava’u Community Trust
