Our Pasifiki-Tonga online store was founded on the 13 May 2023 by a Family dedicated to helping workers who have been affected by not only the restrictions of COVID19 but also the most powerful volcanic eruption in the world to date on the 15 January 2022.  The "Hunga-Tonga-Hunga-Ha'apai" is a submarine volcano in the Kingdom of Tonga, South Pacific region, recorded to produce the largest volcanic eruption in the world today, more powerful than the eruption of Mt Pinatubo in 1991 and Krakatoa in 1883.  It was estimated to have generated a similar force to the explosion of 61 megatons of TNT, a force even more powerful than a Tsar bomb, an aerial nuclear bomb believed to be 1,570 times more devastating than both bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan during the WWII.  The boom of the eruption was heard in Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa, and the tsunami generated by the eruption reached as far as Alaska and Japan causing damages.  The damages caused by the tsunami and ashfall fall by the volcanic eruption was estimated at USD90.4m.

 

Tonga was one of the few (4) countries in the world that was still COVID19 free in January 2022 before the volcanic eruption.  The first COVID19 case was confirmed 2 weeks after the volcanic eruption which locked down the island nation making assistance to those affected very difficult.  Over 84,000 people in Tonga were affected by the volcanic eruption, which is over 80% of the population of the Island Kingdom.    How a small island nation survived this powerful devastating disaster of nature is still unknown.  See links below for more information on the devastating volcanic eruption & tsunami:

Communications down and toxic air after Tonga volcano erupts | 9 News Australia - Bing video

Many in Tonga had no time to flee as tsunami struck after volcano eruption - Bing video

Tonga calls for 'immediate aid' as another large eruption detected | Volcano | Latest English News - Bing video

Tonga: new footage shows aftermath of volcano eruption and tsunami - Bing video

How the Tonga volcano has been felt around the world - Bing video

The Significant IMPACT of the 2022 Hunga Tonga Volcanic Eruption - Bing video

 

A global rapid assessment undertaken by the International Labour Organization confirmed that the workers in the informal sector were the most affected by the COVID19. and in most developing countries, including the Pacific Island countries, up to 80% of the working-class people work in the informal sectors. 

 

In partnership with the Tonga National Workers' Council, the Tonga Public Service Association, the Tonga Handicrafts Workers' Association and the Tonga Development Bank, we, the Pasifiki (Tonga) R&D Corporation, will bring to you the unique Tongan handicrafts handmade by over 1,300 informal sector workers in Tonga, who majority are women (90%) in which 30% are youth.  Our purpose is to assist the workers in the informal sector in Tonga revive their loss livelihoods during the COVID19 restrictions and the volcanic eruption to earn more income to support their families.  It is our hope to start by helping the workers in the handicraft sector, then we will continue to help the workers in the other informal sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, livestock & the roadside traders.

 

With our exceptional service, we guarantee that your shopping experience will be seamless and will bring your order directly to your doorstep by courier to anywhere in the world.  We will start with a few products and will expand to other products in a few months' time.  To the best of our knowledge, this is the first online store selling the Tongan unique handicrafts to anywhere in the world. 

 

Join us to help heal the informal sector workers and build Tonga in this inclusive economic recovery operation.  Take a look at our site to learn more about our products.