Address : Caritas Tonga, Catholic Diocese of Tonga and Niue Catholic Center
P.O. Box 1, Vaololoa, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
Telephone: +676 26890 Fax: +676 26891
Email :caritastonga@gmail.com / ameliamaafu05@gmail.com

The work of Caritas Tonga began in 1972 as the Catholic Commission for Justice and Development (CCJD) under the leadership of the Pacific Bishops’ Conference (CEPAC). Caritas Tonga became an official member of Caritas Internationalis in 2002, and is the justice, peace and development agency of the Catholic Diocese of Tonga and Niue in two independent South Pacific nations, Niue and the Kingdom of Tonga.

Through disaster and climate change awareness campaigns, Caritas Tonga is raising awareness of current environmental issues that threaten Tonga, such as deforestation and sea level rise.

One of the initiatives of Caritas Tonga is the community water project. Approximately 4,000 people in six villages throughout the West and East Tongatapu will have improved access to safe drinking water. Through its Humanitarian Disaster Management Assistance Program, the New Zealand Government has committed NZD 51,000 to Caritas TONGA for the restoration of the piped water system in communities threatened by water shortages, particularly during the El Niño season. The New Zealand High Commissioner, H.E. Sarah Walsh, presented the check to the Director of Caritas Tonga, Mr. Senolita Vakata. The project is part of Tonga’s WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) Recovery Plan and will run for one year.

Caritas Tonga’s headquarters in Nuku’alofa has 5 staff and approximately 200 volunteers to carry out the organization’s activities. 13 parish Caritas in the dioceses of Tonga and Niue have been added to the Secretariat.

Caritas Tonga is a member of Caritas Oceania and Caritas Internationalis and works with Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand and Caritas Australia to promote community and youth development, self-reliance, economic development, and access to clean water and sanitation.