Last month the Pacific Assist team travelled to Tonga as a part of the LDS Church Charities and Pacific Assist Furniture for Schools Programme. Alongside this programme a new health initiative where Turbo Touch takes centre stage was introduced and enthusiastically received in Tonga by The Tonga High School in a bid to reduce diabetes through exercise.

A Turbo Touch exhibition match involving school students, teachers and members of the Pacific Assist team was played for an excitable audience of over 1,000 students, school faculty and dignitaries which included the CEO of Tonga Netball, Mrs Salote Sisifa, members of the Parents and Teachers Association, representatives from Rangitoto College and the Tonga Ministry of Education.

While grateful for the furniture, the school, along with the Ministry of Education representative Mr. Ponapate Taunisila, also expressed appreciation for the continued support of the Tongan government in its efforts to fight diabetes in the Pacific nation.

Jam-packed with action and perfect for all fitness levels and abilities, Turbo Touch was viewed as an excellent means for encouraging more physical activity, resulting in healthy minds and bodies, and helping reduce the incidence of diabetes.

The future for Turbo Touch in the South Pacific is looking bright. Callum Blair a key driver of this first pilot project believes that the exhibition match was a great success and sees potential for growth in other Pacific nations such as Papa New Guinea, Vanuatu, Fiji and Samoawhere Pacific Assist also operates. We look forward to working with Callum and the Pacific Assist team to grow our sport.

We would like to acknowledge the following partners and support people for their contribution to this project. 

LDS Charities and Pacific Assist 
Mrs Oketi Akauola the principal of The Tonga High 
Salote Sisifa a well-respected member of the school’s Board of Trustees
Mr. Ponapate Taunisila a Representative of the Ministry of Education
Equipment providers: Ace Sport and Leisure, Rebel Sport and the Pass It Forward campaign and I-Sport. 

Our final acknowledgements must be directed to Callum Blair, Andy Morgan, Pinomi Tafea and Brook Blair from the Pacific Assist team who were key drivers of this project. 

Article added: Wednesday 17 April 2019