Women of Niuas - Weaving a Sustainable Livelihood in a Changing Climate
Women of Niuas - Weaving a Sustainable Livelihood in a Changing Climate
The Niua group is the northern most group of islands in the country of Tonga. It consists of two main islands of Niuatoputapu and Niuafoóu. These islands are of volcanic origins which had been the cause of mass migration from Niuafoóu to the southern islands in 1946. After the eruption a few natives had moved back to these island and inhabited the remnants of the volcanic arc of Niuafoóu. The Niuas is also home to endemic bird species the Tongan Megapode (Megapodius pritchardii),a dying dialect of the Tongan language and the finest weaving known to the kingdom. The ONCC aims to use this project to help aid the Niua natives living on the mainland of Tongatapu and those in the Niua group by encouraging the planting of pandanus plants which is credited for fine weaving and its conservation. The weaving style of the women of Niua is a true work of art for the Tongan culture and tradition lives in the life of pandanus plants in Niua. This project would fund the replanting and conservation activities of the pandanus plants in Niua and support the women of Niua weaving in the mainland thus creating a chain of events which would hopefully lead to encouragement of use of the native dialect, and also importatntly deviate the human activities away from breeding grounds and natural habitat of the Tongan Malau which would aid in its conservation.
 
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Project Snapshot

Grantee:
Ongo Niua Community Corperation
Country:
Tonga
Area Of Work:
Community Based Adaptation
Biodiversity
Chemicals
Grant Amount:
US$ 22,026.00
Co-Financing Cash:
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 16,000.00
Project Number:
TON/SGP/OP5/Y6/CH/STAR/2019/12
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
The knowledge product hoped to be got by this project is background story on the Niua weaving, the pandanus and its many uses, the language and the tongan malau conservation.
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
The project is funding an alternative livelihood for the natives of Niua. Many of the natives that had migrated to the mainland had suffered many problems in the mainland from squabbling over living space to financial problems that have led to more serious crimes. With this project although aimed at conserving the pandanus species and the tongan malau it hopes to create for Niuas living on mainland an opportunity to live off their skills as master weavers of the country.
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SGP Country office contact

Ms. Sesimani Lokotui
Email:

Address

Baron Road, Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga
Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu