Marking World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025
This November, as the world observes World Tsunami Awareness Day, we are proud to celebrate a major milestone in our ongoing partnership with the Kingdom of Tonga. This global day of awareness emphasises building resilient communities through the Tsunami Ready Programme, a worldwide effort to transform awareness into meaningful action.
The 2025 campaign focuses on proactive preparedness, uniting governments, scientists, local leaders, and communities to reduce tsunami risks together. It’s a timely reminder that resilience begins with strong foundations, both figuratively and literally.
A Partnership Born From Recovery
Following the devastating 2022 volcanic eruption and tsunami, we joined forced with the US-based non-profit Friends of Tonga to assist in the nation’s recovery efforts. Together, identifying an urgent need in the community of Tu’anuku: a safe, weather-resistant kindergarten that could serve both educational and emergency purposes.
The Vision Behind the Kindergarten:
The new Tu’anuku Kindergarten was designed to meet two critical needs for the Tongan people:
The Educational Need
Before 2021, Tonga lacked formalised early childhood education (ECE). Many kindergartens operated privately, relying on tuition fees, which made access uneven. When the Ministry of Education integrated ECE into the national curriculum, the demand for safe, dedicated classroom spaces surged. Many communities improvised with temporary structures, but these makeshift classrooms were often inadequate for effective learning.
The Climate Challenge
As the Pacific faces more frequent and intense weather events, cyclone and earthquake-resistant buildings have become essential. A 2020 World Bank report confirmed that Tongan schools are among the most affected by cyclones, leading to long interruptions in children’s learning.
Weather-resilient classrooms like Tu’anuku’s kindergarten provide a secure shelter for students and teachers during emergencies. As well as reducing learning disruptions by minimising post-storm recovery time.
Progress and Upcoming Milestones
After a year of determined effort, the Tu’anuku Kindergarten is nearly complete. The walls are up, the floor is poured, and the structure is awaiting its final major component, the metal roofing, set to arrive from New Zealand in early November. Once installed, the building will be sealed and ready for finishing touches.
Excitement is growing across the community as His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince of Tonga, is scheduled to officially open the kindergarten during the first week of December. The event, coordinated by Friends of Tonga alongside local officials, will celebrate both the nation’s resilience and the Atlas Foundation’s enduring commitment to global solidarity.
To have The Atlas Foundation choose to partner with us and support the people of Tonga is a powerful demonstration that no place is too far for their mission. It’s truly humbling to have the backing of such an esteemed organization. We are incredibly grateful to the entire Atlas Foundation community for making this effort possible.
A Stronger Foundation for the Future
As we prepare to open the doors of the Tu’anuku Kindergarten, we celebrate more than just a building; it’s a symbol of renewal, resilience, and partnership.
Together, through education and preparedness, we’re helping ensure that Tonga’s youngest learners have a safe and hopeful start, no matter what the future holds.
