Project

Ana Fakalelu Fa’onelua Scholarship

A Letter from Timote Faonelua : Cofounder of Scholarship
Koulo Elementary School : Ha‘apai, Tonga

A few hours from Tonga’s main island is the Ha‘apai group, a cluster of small islands known for their stunning white-sand beaches, called Fo‘i ‘One‘one by Tongans. Despite its beauty, many here struggle to make a living, and this extends to education. Families must pay an average of $500 USD in yearly school fees for each child—a cost most cannot afford. Households are generational, and often, only a few children can go to school while others work on the farm to help.

To address this, my wife and I started the ‘Ana Fakalelu Fa‘onelua Scholarship in 2018 to support students at Koulo Elementary School. The scholarship covers school fees for students who maintain high academic standards, ensuring they can attend school without the burden of financial stress. Currently, we support ten students, with several set to graduate from Koulo High School in two years.

Growing up in Ha‘apai, Timote saw firsthand how difficult it was for families to fund education. My sister, who raised me after I was two, would weave ta‘ovala mats and sell them for a fraction of their worth to cover my school fees. She worked tirelessly, even at the cost of her own health, to ensure I could get an education. This is a common reality for many families in Ha‘apai.

One of my vivid memories from childhood is walking past tables laden with food during the school’s end-of-year celebration, where families feed teachers and administrators. My family could barely afford my school fees, let alone the feast, and I remember feeling embarrassed and helpless. At one point, I even thought about ending it all to relieve my family of the financial burden. But my brother-in-law found me and helped me see a way forward. This experience reinforced my belief in the importance of education as a path out of poverty.

The ‘Ana Fakalelu Fa‘onelua Scholarship is our way of alleviating the financial strain that many students face. We believe education is the key to a better future, and by helping one child at a time, we’re building tomorrow’s leaders.

To fund the scholarship, my wife and I make sacrifices—such as preparing homemade lunches and cooking meals for the week. By the end of the year, we have enough savings to support the scholarship fund. Our ultimate goal is to build a library at Koulo Elementary School to open new worlds for these students, filled with books on science, art, and every possible trade.

We choose one new scholarship recipient each year, covering both elementary and high school fees. We hope to expand this to three students annually. Your contribution will make a lasting impact on these students’ futures.

Thank you for supporting our mission.

Timote & Lisa Faonelua