Tongan OPD receives boost
The commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind has received a major boost in the island Kingdom of Tonga after the Australian Government provided a three-year core funding grant to one of our own Organisations of persons with disabilities.
The Lavame’a Ta’e’iloa Disabled People Association Incorporation (LATA) that was established in 2018 with the aim of creating a barrier-free and inclusive society for all persons with a disability in Tonga, received this Funding from the Australian Government as core funding support towards the implementation of their priorities. Founder of LATA, Rhema Misser in launching the core funding Program mentioned that the support is timely as they strategize on how best to reach the most vulnerable groups they serve.
‘Close to 98% of our projects is funded by the Australian Government and we are thankful for the support provided. Through their continuous assistance, we can have a voice to lobby and advocate for our group. This core funding will help us to advocate for our issues and tackle the discrimination and stigmatization of persons with a disability.’
LATA is a full member of the Pacific Disability Forum and PDF is currently implementing a “Growing Stronger Together “program aimed at improving and strengthening OPD compliance. Through this process, LATA has been able to secure this funding, and this can be credited to the process of improving confidence.
As part of its Strategic five-year plan to ensure an Inclusive and Resilient Pacific for all persons with disabilities, the Forum provided technical assistance to upskill LATA in its due diligence process which also provides donor confidence. The due diligence process is being undertaken throughout the PDF membership for institutional strengthening.
As part of its commitment to Institutional Strengthening of its members, PDF will strive for financial, human resource and organisational sustainability in a way that will allow responsiveness to the diversity of needs of its members and effective implementation of the strategy. This means that PDF will invest in building its human capital within the movement to provide the expertise needed with others to implement the strategy.
LATA launched their core fund program this week at the Free Wesleyan Church Training Centre in Nukualofa, Tomnga . The event was marked by the handover of a new vehicle by the Australian High Commissioner to Tonga, HE Rachael Moore and the Minister for Internal Affairs, and Disability, Lord Vaea.
Other invited guests included representatives from the civil society, government, and NGO community. This milestone event marks the start of this three-year program which will conclude in July 2025.
