Malo ‘aupito (Thank you)

	Above: Rev. Ikani Tolu                     Photo credit: Act for Peace

Reverend Ikani Tolu, General Secretary of the Tongan National Council of Churches (TNCC) recently visited the Sydney office of Act for Peace. He thanked Australians who had given their support when the devastating Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption occurred earlier in the year.

The Act for Peace community raised over $94,000 to help our partner, TNCC, in Tonga, to assist communities living with the physical devastation, food insecurity, and trauma caused by this disaster.

Emma, Act for Peace team member recalls the visit.

Last week, I had the honour of sitting face to face with some of the leading voices and changemakers tackling climate displacement in the Pacific.

"I want to thank Australia", he began, "for their support during the eruption and during the tsunami."

"It’s been 6 months now, and we are almost back to normal."

As he addressed the table, Reverend Ikani Tolu, General Secretary of our local partner, the Tongan National Council of Churches, looked to the Act for Peace staff in the room.

"We owe the world who immediately responded to the new disaster that our people faced at the beginning of the year, with the many prayers, we survived, and on behalf of our people, I say thank you. Malo ‘aupito."

A collective hush fell over the table as we took in his words.

It's not every day we get to sit face to face with our partners.

Read the full text here

“I want to thank Australia for their support during the eruption and tsunami”: A message from our local partner in Tonga  July 28, 2022

Act for Peace and NCCA staff meet with church leaders from our partners in the Pacific Islands. Photo credit: Act for Peace		As a result of climate change, communities in Tonga are increasingly exposed to disaster events like cyclones, earthquakes and flooding. Photo credit: Tom Keating / Act for Peace