Peace Corps Projects

Clean Learning Environment Project

Initiative by Katarina E.

📍 Ta’anga, ‘Eua Island Project Complete 📅 January – February 2025 💵 $1,913.81 USD in funding

This project aimed to repair the primary school grounds to improve students’ learning conditions. Over the years, primary schools had fallen into disrepair, resulting in an environment that was not entirely conducive to learning. School grounds and infrastructure had deteriorated, affecting students’ learning. This had been a cause of concern for the school and the community; therefore, they were eager and ready to work together to create a safer school. As part of this project, school staff were oriented and trained on the proper use, maintenance, and storage of the equipment and the school to ensure longevity.

Students at the school came from three different communities who had all played an essential role in securing a safer and cleaner school for their children. These communities participated in various meetings and discussions, planning, fundraising, and other opportunities for funding assistance. This grant proposal was initiated by the Parent Teacher Association, which also implemented, monitored, and sustained the project. With this funding, the community was better able to support their children’s education and ensure a safe and clean learning environment.

Pictured (1-3): The Ta’anga Government Primary School (GPS) before grant activities began.

Pictured (4-7): The rejuvenated school environment following the grant’s completion.

Water Sanitation and Security Project

Initiative by Sarah Beth H.

📍 Holeva, Vava’u Island Group Project Complete 📅 March 2025 💵 $4,357.91 USD in funding

This project aimed to provide a sustainable solution for safe drinking water to a community that relied entirely on rainwater as its sole freshwater source. The project sought to achieve this by acquiring a pressure washer, water pump generator, and ladders to facilitate the cleaning of roof gutters and water tanks within the village.

At the time, there were no resources or services available on the island to clean and maintain rainwater collection systems. As a result, many water tanks, some of which had gone uncleaned for over 30 years, had become contaminated, causing illness and rendering the water unsafe for consumption. These tanks remained the community’s only source of freshwater.

This grant enhanced water security and public health by equipping community members with the skills and tools needed to maintain and preserve rainwater harvesting systems effectively.

This initiative not only addressed an urgent need but also enhanced community self-reliance by building the capacity to manage essential infrastructure through ongoing workshops. By providing a long-term solution to a pressing challenge, the project significantly improved the overall well-being and resilience of the community.

Pictured: Sarah Beth H. and photos of the project in progress.

Safe and Healthy School Grounds Project

Initiative by Ashlynn A.

📍 Faleloa, Ha’apai Island Group Project Complete 📅 August – November 2025 💵 $2,803.36 USD in funding

Pictured: The school fence before the project was initiated, and the finished result.

Olo’ua Island Water Security Project

Initiative by Rachael Z.

📍 Olo’ua, Vava’u Island Group ✅ Project Complete 📅 March – July 2026 💵  $7,421.33 USD in funding

The island community of Olo’ua is a small, detached settlement in the Vava’u group that relies entirely on personal rain tanks to meet its freshwater needs. In recent years, many of these systems had failed to last through the dry season, forcing families to rely on shared communal storage that also neared depletion when school was out of session. This project successfully increased water security and climate resilience for the approximately 15 households, 2 churches, and the local primary school (GPS) that make up this resilient community.

The project involved the construction of stands and the installation of four 10,000L water tanks at key locations to optimize community access. At the Wesleyan Church Hall—a high-demand location—the new tank was placed right next to an existing one to create a “double storage” system. To improve access for residents living on the wharf side of the island, one tank originally planned for the town hall was strategically moved to a neighboring church building that offered more space. The remaining two tanks were successfully positioned at the Church of Tonga Hall and GPS Olo’ua, where the gutters and downpipes were fully connected.

By increasing the community’s total storage capacity by 40,000 liters, the project ensured that residents have a reliable backup during droughts. The first connected tank immediately began catching rainwater, prompting the community to establish a sharing system to ensure water is distributed fairly during future shortages. To maintain the quality of the collected rainwater, the project also included down-piping and mosquito mesh to keep the supply clean and safe for household use.

With 2026 being an El Niño year, getting this system fully operational was incredibly critical for the island’s water security, and the timing could not have been better.

Designed through a collaborative partnership between the Olo’ua community and Peace Corps Volunteer Rachael Z., this initiative was community-led at every stage. During the planning phase, every participant in a community-wide survey expressed a critical need for expanded storage. The residents of Olo’ua contributed the tank platforms, guttering, and the labor required for boat transportation and installation from the Neiafu wharf. This effort not only addressed immediate scarcity but also built the community’s long-term capacity to adapt to climate change and improved the overall quality of life for families on the island.

Pictured: The Olo’ua community and Peace Corps Volunteer Rachael Z. with the completed construction stands and newly installed water tanks!