“We have lived here for 5 years and love being part of this vibrant community,” says Melissa. “This year we have an amazing opportunity to do some volunteer work overseas.”
Both have been working locally for the past five years – Melissa as an audiologist in Whitianga and Thames, and Chris as an electrician. They have taken a keen interest in local community groups, participating in the fishing club, community choir, beach-care, mosaics group and yoga.
“We were looking into options for volunteer work and I was surprised to find an audiology position on the beautiful island of Tonga,” said Melissa.
This position and this opportunity have come about through Volunteer Service Abroad New Zealand (Te Tūao Tāwāhi). They will be going to Tonga for 12 months, living in Nuku’alofa on the island of Tongatapu. Using her years of experience, Melissa will train an Audiology Assistant at Vaiola Hospital, and in the same vein, Chris will help with various projects in the community, many of them requiring electrical knowledge. “It is a great chance to give back and I am impressed by the goal to train local people to produce sustainable services for the long term benefit of the Tongan people,” says Chris.
“In the weekends we are looking forward to exploring the islands, snorkelling and fishing,” says Melissa. “At this time of year, the humpback whales come to Tonga to have their babies so that would be amazing to see. We are keen to learn about the Tongan culture and live in the community and take part in local activities, although I can see that learning the language will be a challenge.”
For more than 60 years, VSA volunteers have shared their skills, knowledge, and experience with communities across the Pacific and beyond. They bring expertise from many different fields and work alongside local partners to strengthen skills, build confidence, and support community solutions that last. At the heart of volunteering are connection, respect, and a willingness to learn from each other. Many VSA volunteers return to New Zealand with new perspectives, lasting friendships, and a continued desire to give back to their own communities.
VSA will be supporting Melissa and Chris by providing flights, simple accommodation and a basic living allowance. Each volunteer is asked to each raise the sum of $1000 to contribute to the expenses. VSA is a non-religious, non-political registered charity that focuses on building partnerships and creating sustainable change. The NZ government, via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), covers 90% of the costs involved as part of the Pacific Aid programme, with the remainder coming from donations and fundraising.
Melissa and Chris have set up a Raisely page for people to make donations. To thank their supporters, every donation will go into a prize draw to receive a gift voucher for a Half Day Pool Pass for two valued at $150, generously donated by The Lost Spring, our local fabulous Pacific Island Resort. The prize draw will take place on 10 August. All donations are tax deductible, with receipts sent directly from VSA.
Donations will help VSA continue their vital work – from training local leaders and promoting education and development, to ensuring VSA can keep supporting volunteers and the organisations they work with. Every little bit counts and will directly contribute to a brighter future for Pacific communities.
Melissa and Chris would really appreciate your support.
To donate, use the QR code shown here, or go to Volunteer Service Abroad – Te Tūao Tāwāhi Incorporated online at: https://volunteer-service-abroad.raiselysite.com/melissa-and-chris-baily
If you’re interested to learn more about VSA, take a look at www.vsa.org.nz for more information about VSA and the assignments currently on offer.
