What We Do
Friends of Tonga operates in strategic areas that address the core challenges currently affecting Tonga, including education and the environment. Our secondary mission is to promote fellowship and cultural exchange between Tongans and Americans.
Education
Helping support, educate, and train the next generation of Tongan leaders.
Scholarships
It is free for students to attend public schools in Tonga, but parents must still pay school fees, which often they cannot afford. Friends of Tonga meets the need by awarding scholarships.
Tau Laukonga
Reading apps built for the Kingdom of Tonga, ensuring every family has free, easy access to a library of over 200 culturally-relevant books in Tongan and English.
Learning Spaces
We fund the construction of disaster-resistant learning spaces, including kindergartens, to ensure every Tongan child has a safe place to learn and grow.
Read Aloud Library
Access to educational resources, especially books, is limited in Tonga. Friends of Tonga hosts a library of reading videos recorded by native English speakers.
Pen Pal Program
We connect Tongan students with international classrooms to provide meaningful and authentic writing exchanges across cultures.
Support Our Work
Our Education, Environment, and Community programs wouldn't be possible without your support.
Environment
Forging a greener, more resilient Tonga.
Disaster Relief
Friends of Tonga was founded in response to a devastating cyclone. Today, we’re a critical partner for aid distribution when disasters strike.
Building Resilience
We’ve funded dozens of projects that build climate resilience, including crop restoration, water, sanitation, and hygiene systems, and more.
Aquaculture Pilot
Supporting the founding of a new aquaculture site overseen by the Civil Society Forum of Tonga in Sopu, Tongatapu. Construction is currently underway.
Community
Connecting friends of the Tongan people, no matter where they call home.
Peace Corps Projects
PCPP grants connect volunteers, their communities, and donors in the United States and worldwide to fund community-initiated and led projects.
Events
Friends of Tonga cultivates community by hosting virtual events, including personal memoirs, documentary discussions, and virtual kava sessions.