Caritas helping out in Tonga

Hello – Malo e lelei Tonga has three main island groups. They are Tongatapu, Vava’u and Ha’apai.

Looking out of the plane window to some of the islands of Tonga down below. Tonga is in the Pacific Ocean.

Caritas is helping families We are helping to support families earn some money. The money pays for important needs like school fees, food and doctors bills. The money helps people.

Here are two of the ways we are helping Tapa making and mat weaving

Caritas Tonga and Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand working together. Caritas is helping 13 women’s groups to make and sell beautiful tapa cloth. It can be sold to people in USA, Australia and New Zealand.

How to make tapa-ngatu 1. Cut the stems of the mulberry – hiapo bushes. 2. Peel off the bark leaving tutu. Soak the tutu in water.

Tapa making 3. Beat the strips flat to make wide strips – feta’aki. 4. Everyone joins in the tapa beating over many days.

Tapa making 5. They are rolled up to dry. 6. The fun starts with smoothing on the glue paste made from cassava.

Pasting the feta’aki

Tapa making When it is dry and flat as a large mat, a pattern is painted using vegetable dyes.

Uses for tapa-ngatu Today tapa is used for weddings and funerals. Tourists buy tapa-ngatu to use back home. Tapa is used for dancing costumes. See on the next page.

Lisa has made a dancing costume It has tapa, shells and pine needles.

Look at the handwork on the dance costume

Making mats from pandanus leaves People also make mats. The mats are made from the dried leaves of the pandanus plant. Mats are an important tradition in Tonga. Caritas is helping to support mat weaving.

Thank you! Malo Aupito!

Theme for Lent 2013 Tongan Tau pau’iho’otui’ Talaki loto to’a Mo’ui fiefia. English Follow faithfully the way Tell courageously the truth Live joyfully the life.

Acknowledgements We thanks to all those who agreed to have their photo taken. Photography by Emily Benefield and Leo Duce, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand staff.

2013