International Service 2026 - Tonga 

Over the past 12 months, the “Arts a Go Go” International Service 2026 team and their families have demonstrated extraordinary dedication to our upcoming community project in Tonga. It has been a year defined by hard work and a shared vision to uphold a pillar of our school: International Service is a significant part of HIBS’s Special Character, and this fine group of young men has embraced that responsibility by “bringing the fizz”.

We are incredibly proud to report that, through tireless effort, the team has raised just over $135,000, with fundraising efforts ending at the end of the April Holidays. This is a monumental achievement that speaks to our students' character. Furthermore, every student has personally committed to paying the majority of their own return airfares and accommodation costs. This ensures that the vast majority of funds raised flow directly into our partnership with Ahopanilolo Technical Institute (ATI), accommodation and catering costs.

While our total is significant, this year presented a unique challenge. Unlike previous years, our group did not rely on previously raised or carry-over funds. Every dollar for this project has been earned from the ground up by the current 2026 team.

ATI is a vital player in Tonga’s movement toward disability-inclusive education. With the support of a project manager in Tonga, Tai Vaka, from Build N Concrete Ltd, the team will be on the ground to support infrastructure improvements, specifically renovating learning spaces that empower women and people with disabilities to gain independence through hospitality and home-caring skills.  

We aren't just sending a team; we are fulfilling the HIBS mission by joining a movement toward a more inclusive Pacific.