Read the latest news and updates from volunteers, partners, and staff across the moana working collectively towards a world with thriving communities.
Developing deaf education in Tonga
Rebecca Anderson-Griffith worked as a Sign Language Teacher both in-country in Tonga and as an e-volunteer. She shares an insight into her ‘very meaningful’ year volunteering.
Revolutionising the gym space in Honiara
Gerard O’Brien tells us about developing capacity in the Solomon Islands’ health and fitness sector.
Exploring sustainable energy in the Pacific
A Q&A with returned volunteer Chris Williamson
Gaining a new perspective
Michaela Powell tells us about developing speech language therapy capacity in Samoa.
‘It’s such a special place’
Returned volunteer Sarah Togher tells us what’s been unique about volunteering in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Giving back in Timor-Leste
What do Samsung, Toyota, and pig farmers in Timor-Leste have in common?
Empowering women for stronger sustainable communities
Partner organisation spotlight: Teitoiningaina
VSA receives Margaret Neave Endowment Fund grant
How the Margaret Neave Endowment Fund is supporting optimal health outcomes in Tonga.
Language revitalisation in the Cooks
James Uri-Puati is writing a thesis about revitalising Cook Islands Māori. He explains the passion behind this project.
Empowering youth in Vanuatu
UniVol Morgan Kelly has been volunteering as a Youth Development Assistant in Santo, Vanuatu, since February. Here, she shares a bit about finding her feet and building capacity at a local youth centre.
‘It’s hard to put into words’
VSA volunteer Jackie Cronin has volunteered multiple times. She tells us about her most recent assignment in Tonga, and why she keeps coming back for more.
Double the impact
UniVol Roi Burnett tells us about enjoying her first volunteering stint so much, she went back for a second.
The Mauri Way
eVolunteer Anna Stevens tells us about building tourism capacity in Kiribati in a critical post-Covid time.
‘Incredible, in a word’
Jonty Crane is currently volunteering in Timor-Leste. He tells us about increasing organisational capacity, boosting tourism, and spreading the word about the wonders Timor-Leste has to offer.
Celebrating the volunteers who keep on giving
Celebrating a recently appointed Life Member and inviting nominations for 2024.
Sharing the joy of sport
UniVol Eileen Dixon volunteered in Samoa in 2023 as a Sports Development Assistant at National Rugby League Samoa. She tells us about sharing her skills, forging new connections, and enjoying herself so much she extended her assignment for a further seven months.
The experience of a lifetime
Recently returned UniVol Charlotte Brewer tells us about making a difference – and lifelong friends – in Vanuatu.
A Tongan Love Affair – The Story of a Volunteer in 1967 who Married a Tongan and Now Lives a Tongan Life!
VSA has been active in Tonga since 1965. One of our early volunteers to Tonga, Paul Karalus, was part of the school leaver programme and was placed with St. John's High School in Tonga in 1967. Paul taught English and Social Studies in the intermediate years at the school. At only 18, Paul met and fell in love with his wife, Tafolosa, from Ha’apai in Tonga. Although the couple returned to New Zealand and enjoyed teaching and learning Te Reo in Opotiki, they returned to Tonga to give their three young girls a chance to experience Tonga and gain fluency in Tongan. What started as a volunteering assignment for Paul, turned to living in Tonga for over half a century.
Pick up where you left off—Volunteer Returns to Timor-Leste to Continue Working with the Partner Organisation
Meet VSA volunteer, Alastair Gordon, who’s picked up a second assignment in Timor-Leste with Kaebauk Investimentu no Finansas (Kaebauk). Kaebauk serves to provide loan and deposit products to Timorese nationals. Mainly offered in rural areas, it lays its focus on offering financial services to unbanked low-income entrepreneurs. Alastair is a Marketing Adviser for Kaebauk and works around helping this micro-finance organisation make more Timorese aware of their services. Here's a quick look at Alastair’s work with KIF…
Six Volunteer Assignments, Three Pacific Countries, Ten Years with VSA and Counting!
Meet VSA volunteer Barry Binding, who has been with us since 2008. Barry's first assignment was in Bougainville for two years, where he later returned to pick up three additional assignments for another two years. This was then followed by a short-term project in Vanuatu, and finally a one-year assignment in Timor-Leste. Barry’s partner, Joanne Trimble, accompanied him during his many assignments in Bougainville and Timor-Leste. Over these ten years, Barry has undertaken core tasks with our partner organisations that range from building a library to assessing damage to employee housing post-Vanuatu’s devastating cyclone. Here’s a peek into Barry’s time as a volunteer in the Pacific…
