CARITAS EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN &

Y5–6 LESSON PACK

Caritas Aotearoa Caritas Aotearoa has New Zealand has partnered with partnered with Caritas Fiji, the Caritas Tonga newest Caritas to support local member, to develop Tongan families resilience to natural in accessing disasters through resources; ranging strengthened from basics, preparedness and such as water, response capacity. to emergency supplies needed Recovering from: after experiencing disasters – such as Winston . (2016) Recovering from: Cyclone Gita (2018) Y5–6

CARITAS EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN TONGA & FIJI TE WHAKAUTU OHOTATA A CARITAS I TONGA ME WHĪTĪ

HISTORY Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand responded in supporting the Archdiocese of Fiji when caused widespread damage in 2016 and supporting Caritas Tonga when Cyclone Gita made landfall there in 2018.

CURRENT PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS After Cyclone Winston, families and communities throughout Fiji were left devastated by the damage and what they experienced. Psychosocial counselling (talking and sharing about these experiences) was very important in the rebuilding of lives and livelihoods around Fiji. Many emergency supplies were distributed in conjunction with this support after previous logistics training. Also, in preparation for any future disasters the building of a cyclone-resilient house helped local builders learn how to rebuild safer houses. Effective disaster preparedness training was facilitated by Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand across Fiji in case of another event like Cyclone Winston. The recovery in Tonga after Cyclone Gita shared many similarities to what was experienced in Fiji. Emergency items were distributed by Caritas across the islands. Families received help (see bottom left) along with 35 schools, 26 disability centres and households, 22 churches and evacuation centres, and 19 communal water points. Apifo’ou College, one of the oldest schools in Tonga, incurred the most damage when Cyclone Gita arrived. Buildings were damaged, resources were ruined, and their toilet block was destroyed. Support from New Zealand Catholic primary schools, the NZCPPA and Caritas through Mufti Mania in 2018, helped raise more than $27,000 that helped rebuild the toilet block and provide additional repairs.

DISTRIBUTION IN TONGA QUICK STATS 2,411 families (about 11,335 people) were helped by ✔ 350,000 people in Fiji (40% of the Caritas in Tonga after Cyclone Gita. population) were impacted by Cyclone After Cyclone Gits the following items were distributed by Winston Caritas to families in need: ✔ About 40,000 homes were damaged in • 800 hygiene kits Fiji • 600 water containers ✔ 64 schools were destroyed in Fiji (and • 470 kitchen sets 243 more were damaged) • 180 blankets ✔ 80% of Tongan population were • 600 buckets impacted by Cyclone Gita • 400 tarpaulins • 1,000,000 litres of purified water ✔ About 4,500 homes were damaged in Tonga

CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND CARITAS IN ACTION: RESTORING HOPE AND SPREADING LOVE Y5–6

STORIES AND RELEVANT RESOURCES HE PŪRĀKAU ME ĒTAHI RAUEMI HĀNGAI

Story A: A New Roof Melaia Latu and her son, Ofa, were sheltered at home with the rest of their family when Cyclone Gita hit. Their roof was completely removed from their home and a resulting surge caused them to be flooded for the days that followed. Caritas Tonga, with the support of Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, were able to help Melaia and Ofa to completely rebuild their roof and home. They were one of 340 families that were thankful after experiencing a successful rebuild. The impact of having the new roof for the family cannot be understated.

Update: Paulina Naleba In 2016, Paulina Naleba and her family lost their home when Cyclone Winston arrived. They found shelter in the children’s school and were hoping to find something better. At the end of 2019, Phil from Caritas met the Naleba family again and spent time with Paulina who was now thirteen and a responsible prefect at the same school. Her family also now live in a stable home halfway between school and the church. She has a new little sister and is a great help to her parents. After school Paulina tends to the family papaya garden and helps her mother with household chores while also being sure to complete her homework.

Update: Natovi Catholic Primary School When Cyclone Winston landed in Fiji, it destroyed many of the buildings at Natovi Catholic Primary School (including the school hall shown here). All the buildings are now restored and in great condition (as shown). Both Joelli and Vasiti who we met in 2017 have now moved on from the school. However, it is great to see that education is highly valued in Fiji and students have been able to continue to learn despite what happened a few years ago.

Update: Amelia Ma’afu Since we met Amelia in the 2017 Caritas resources, she has now become the director of Caritas Tonga and is the main project manager, with the help of three staff. Responding to the damage caused by Cyclone Gita was an emotional roller coaster – she experienced shock, heartbreak, joy, satisfaction and peace.

CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND CARITAS IN ACTION: RESTORING HOPE AND SPREADING LOVE Y5–6

LESSON OUTLINE ANGA AKORANGA

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will… 1. Describe how Caritas responded to emergency situations in Fiji and Tonga 2. Create a cartoon that illustrates the impact of support during an emergency

KARAKIA ACTIVITY Choose a prayer from the Prayer Booklet that Get into small groups and challenge students to focuses on solidarity and helping others in need. perform short role plays of experiencing both an emergency (such as a cyclone) and the response SETTING THE SCENE after the event. Groups could divide equally Almost every day there is a large-scale emergency into families that are affected and emergency event somewhere in the world. Caritas responds to responders. Remind students to focus mainly on provide emergency relief to those in need. the impact on families and the feelings of those ACTIVITY involved. Get students to perform a quick online research task DISCUSSION to find out more about what happened in Fiji and Give students a chance to talk about any Tonga with Cyclone Winston and Cyclone Gita. emergencies that they have been involved in. How DISCUSSION did it feel? Who provided them with help? Do they Take time to share findings about the large still remember what happened? that caused damage in Fiji and Tonga in recent years. VIEW You may choose to share the relevant statistics and One of the inspiring leaders from the response in highlights from Caritas in Tonga & Fiji page. Were Tonga was Amelia Ma’afu, the current director of there any similarities? Which was worse? How did Caritas Tonga. She was instrumental in the Caritas agencies such as Caritas respond? Looking at the response after Cyclone Gita. Watch the PowerPoint numbers, how would students evaluate the response Tonga’s Climate Change Officer to find out about from Caritas Tonga? Amelia and her previous role as shown in the Caritas VIEW resources in 2017. Read Update: Amelia Ma’afu to Watch the video Paulina’s story to see the impact hear a recent update of Amelia’s work now. on Paulina Naleba and her family only weeks after ACTIVITY Cyclone Winston in Fiji. Ask students to identify Write a letter of encouragement to either Amelia or the biggest challenges for Paulina and her family Paulina to let them know that you are thinking of at the time. Read Update: Paulina Naleba to hear them. You can direct your letters to c/o Michael the latest about Paulina’s family from late last year. Stewart, Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand, PO Box Use the PowerPoint Paulina’s Garden to see recent 12193, Thorndon, Wellington 6144. images of Paulina from 2019. ACTIVITY VIEW Give out Worksheet 16: What a Difference to Read Story A: A New Roof to hear about the help students create a short cartoon to illustrate the experience of Cyclone Gita in Tonga from Melaia positive impact that support provided after and Ofa’s perspective. Talk with students about an emergency event like a cyclone can have on a the importance of shelter and having a reliable family. Remind students to focus on: (1) the physical roof and home. Then watch the video Winston and environment; (2) the feelings of families before and Natovi from 2017 and read Update: Natovi Catholic after the event; and (3) the emergency response Primary School to highlight the importance of itself within their story/cartoon. uninterrupted education. ACTION Choose a few activities from the Action Plan and challenge students to complete these before the end of the week.

CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND CARITAS IN ACTION: RESTORING HOPE AND SPREADING LOVE Y5–6

WORKSHEET 16 WHĀRANGI MAHI 16

What a Difference Use your artistic skills to create a short cartoon below. Show the positive impact that support provided after an emergency event like a cyclone can have on a family. Consider the physical environment and the feelings of the family before and after the event and the emergency response.

CARITAS AOTEAROA NEW ZEALAND CARITAS IN ACTION: RESTORING HOPE AND SPREADING LOVE