Tongan researcher shines a light on small Tongan village through documentaries

Photo retrieved from nzherald.co.nz

A Tongan researcher is making documentaries to highlight the efforts of people from a small village in the island nation working to help themselves.

Auckland University of Technology PHD student, Sylvester Tonga, is capturing the fundraising projects of villagers from Leimatu’a – a village on the island of Vava’u, about 309km north-east of Tonga’s capital city, Nuku’alofa.

The use of documentaries is helping to tell the story of how the villagers and those connected to the village but based overseas are raising thousands of dollars to help their economic development.

Researcher Tonga will travel to the island kingdom in December to chronicle the Leimatu’a people working on their road repairs and follow more fundraising initiatives to shine a spotlight on the villagers’ remarkable spirit of self-sustainability.

“Leimatu’a people believe they are the indigenous people of Tonga,” the 54-year-old says.

“They are known for their warm hearts and for being happy.”