MEDIA RELEASE
Government of Tonga and Save the Children partnership aims to build a resilient education system in a changing climate
Nuku'alofa, Tonga, 20 August 2025 - The Government of Tonga and Save the Children Tonga have officially signed a Partnership Agreement to launch the Building the Climate Resilience of Children and Communities through the Education Sector (BRACE) project - a five-year initiative designed to strengthen climate resilience in the education system.
The agreement was signed by the Hon. Prime Minister of Tonga, Dr ‘Aisake Valu Eke, Hon. Minister of Education and Training, Dr ‘Uhilamoelangi Fasi, and Save the Children’s Pacific Regional Director, Kim Koch, marking a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to protect children and communities from the growing impacts of climate change.
The BRACE project is a one-of-a-kind program being implemented in the Pacific, which will focus on improving the safety and sustainability of school facilities, strengthening school safety and educational continuity systems, and embedding risk reduction and climate resilience education into Tonga’s national curriculum.
Pacific Island nations like Tonga are among the most vulnerable to climate change. Rising sea levels, increasingly severe tropical cyclones, and coastal erosion pose serious threats to infrastructure, livelihoods, and the wellbeing of children. Schools are often disrupted or damaged during disasters, interrupting education and placing children at risk. BRACE aims to address these challenges by making schools greener, safer, more resilient, and better equipped to continue delivering education in times of crisis.
"I support this program, which will help improve the holistic development of children to fulfill their full potential and purpose in life”, Hon. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Hon. Dr. ‘Aisake Valu Eke.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Kim Koch said, “This partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring children in Tonga can continue learning in safe environments, even as the climate around them changes. We’re proud to support efforts that place education at the heart of community resilience.”
The BRACE project, funded through the Green Climate Fund and the Global Partnership for Education, will be co-led by Save the Children Tonga and the Ministry of Education and Training, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), representing a strong collaboration between government and civil society, and a bold investment in the future of Tonga’s children and communities.
Media Contact:
Kristyn Lobendahn
Pacific Regional Communications Lead
kristyn.lobendahn@savethechildren.org.au
- Log in to post comments
