Mufti Mania 2014 Catholic Schools across New Zealand in solidarity with St Joseph’s Technical College Tonga A joint project of the New Zealand Catholic Primary Principals’ Association & Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand

Tonga is an archipelago of 176 islands, 36 of which are inhabited by more than 100,000 people. The pictured island is Ha ‘apai.

This is St Joseph’s Technical College in Ha ‘apai.

Students are aged between 11 – 16years old.

In January this year, Cyclone Ian hit Ha ‘apai with heavy rain and strong winds which reached 250 kilometres per hour.

St Joseph’s College was hit hard by Cyclone Ian, completely destroying the roof of the industrial arts classrooms, where practical skills like woodwork and metalwork are taught.

Many students in Tonga become carpenters or mechanics so these are important life skills for them to learn at school. It’s actually preparing many of them for their future careers.

“After these classrooms were destroyed by the cyclone, we tried teaching woodwork in our main school building, but the noise disturbed students in other classes. We had to stop and now students are missing out on a very important part of their education, because we can no longer use these classrooms.” Sr. Malia Kiutau, Principal of St. Joseph’s School, Ha’apai

How can we help the students at St Joseph's Technical College in Tonga continue to learn the important skills they need?

You can help by wearing mufti clothes and bringing a gold coin to school! Since 2007 Catholic Schools across New Zealand have raised over $100, 000 through Mufti Mania to support schools in the Pacific. Mufti Mania - Friday 4 July 2014