Two Resilient Women, Chickens and a Dream Garden

When the Hunga Tonga–Hunga Ha’apai volcano erupted in 2022, the explosion was heard across the Pacific. In Tonga, ash blanketed homes, crops were destroyed, and the tsunami that followed swept through coastal neighbourhoods, damaging gardens, livestock pens, and food supplies. Many families suddenly found themselves without the small sources of income and nutrition they had relied on for years.

For Mrs Lelenoa, then 79 years old, the disaster was a heavy blow. Her neighbourhood of Anana was hit hard, and the family’s food security became uncertain overnight. But through CWS supported project, she received new chickens and a well built coop to keep them safe from future storms. Raising chickens had always been her passion, and now it became a lifeline. “Sometimes we didn’t have meat for dinner due to a shortage of savings,” she says. “Now it’s different—we have delicious chicken that we raised.” Her grandchildren help care for the flock, and even her siblings have begun raising their own, inspired by her success.

Across the island in Sopu, Soana Olivia Moala who was 71 years old at the time, faced similar challenges. The tsunami had damaged gardens, washed away seedlings, and left families struggling to re establish food sources. A long time leader in her women’s development group, Soana had always filled her home with medicinal, cultural, and fruit bearing plants. But after the disaster, rebuilding her garden became essential—not just for beauty, but for survival.

With support from CWS, she received new fruit trees and plants to restore what had been lost. Passionfruit, lemon, pawpaw, kava, and breadfruit now flourish again in her yard, providing steady food throughout the year. “The price of fruit trees at the market is overwhelming,” she explains. “That is why I am happy to give seedlings away for free. The more I give, the more yield I get.” Her garden has become a source of resilience for her family and a blessing for neighbours who rely on her generosity.

Supported by Tonga Community Development Trust and CWS, both women have rebuilt not only their livelihoods but their sense of stability after a devastating disaster. With just a little extra help from CWS, chickens, fruit trees, and shared knowledge became powerful tools for recovery—helping families stand stronger in the face of storms ahead.