It allows him to support his family and keep his five children in school.

He is the secretary of a farming collective called the St Anthony of Padua group

The collective is part of Caritas Tonga's sustainable livelihoods programme.

Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand assists with funding

The programme aims to boost the income of over 400 families in Tongatapu and Vava'u.

It provides small loans which farmers can use to set up micro-enterprises.

Community members are trained in business management, produce development and marketing.

The income they gain will allow them to become financially independent.

"We support poor farmers who cannot afford any collateral for their loans and otherwise would have no other way of acquiring financial support either from a bank or other private institution," says Sr Senolita Vakata, director of Caritas Tonga.

Source

• caritas.org.nz
• Image: food.caritas.org

The neighbourhood programmes support groups of 8 - 15 people to pursue small businesses in areas such as: tapa cloth and mat weaving; chicken and pig raising; growing crops; and fishing.

The income earned supports school fees and other household needs like food.

Tapa cloth mats are marketed locally and overseas. The neighbourhood programmes aim to help 425 families in 21 villages in Tongatapu and Vava'u.

Lisa Vehikite is the leader of a tapa-making (cloth-making) neighbourhood.

Lisa's husband works in Australia picking fruit for seven months each year. She has five children at home in Utulau Village on the main island of Tongatapu.

The Income she earns through the tapa making group helps pay her children's school fees.She heard about the neighbourhood programmes at a community meeting where Caritas Tonga's Amelia Ma'afu spoke.

"This project makes me feel like I am a real mother ... someone else is helping us to do our work at home," says Lisa. Her dream is to one day have her own handicraft shop.

Source

• Blog.caritas.org
• Caritas.org.nz
• Image: Caritas.org.nz