"Hope in the Concept of Peace" - An Interview with Cook Island Country Manager James Puati

James Puati, Country Manager

What is your perspective on the Global Volunteers organization in your community?

Global Volunteers has become an institution in our community. Over the 15 years of service, there have been in excess of 135 teams of volunteers who have assisted with the development of our nation in the areas of Education, Health, Environmental and Social services as well as in many other incidental areas as the need has arisen. It has been, and will continue to be, a sustainable program which the community can rely on.   

 

How do volunteers make a significant impact on community projects?

One of the main investments a country can do is in the area of education. Our program has contributed significantly to the education of young people in the Cook islands by supporting literacy development as well as other areas in education as volunteers specific skills are utilized in response to the community or schools need. When a team is coming, it becomes a catalyst for projects to carry on, start, or move in another direction. The volunteers coming and providing service somehow produces energy and renews excitement in on-going projects.

Volunteer Abby Rosenthal works with students from Takitumu School.

 

How is it different from other volunteering opportunities?

Global Volunteers has a history of integrity that's well-known throughout the community!

What do you like volunteers to know about your community?

The Cook Islands is a developing nation, it is not a third-world country. While progress is being made, there is still a lot of room for improvement. For instance, while Maori is the native language of the Cook Islands, English is predominantly spoken - and this creates some unique difficulties as often neither Maori or English are spoken well. Linguists will tell you that to learn a second language well you must first know speak your mother tongue fluently.

Also, our community is heavily dependent on aide from a number of countries. Tourism is the main income earner for the Cook Islands ,and students are encouraged in High School to develop entrepreneurial skills / business development opportunities for their future.

What's unique about the Cook Islands Service Program?

Providing service on a small South Pacific Island offers opportunities to really connect with local people. As the program has been operating for 15 years people know the Global Volunteers well, and often speak to you on the bus, when out for dinner, or during leisure time. Volunteers have mentioned how special they are made to feel when out in the community and being recognized and greeted by a child they have been working with and their family. This happens often in a small community of only around 9,000 people. 

Rarotonga is a very safe place, and we have had many single people feel totally comfortable while in the Cook Islands - you are part of a team, but you are able to do things on your own and feel safe about that.

Free time opportunities are abundant outside of the service program as tourism is our major industry. Some pleasures volunteers have participated in are diving, snorkeling, travelling to the outer islands on the weekend, learning traditional dance, and learning our history.   

What do volunteers most often say they learn about volunteering with local people?

Humility and gratitude for all they have in their lives are characteristic of Cook Islanders. Volunteers say they learn how to laugh and to not make life so difficult.   They admire our belief that you do not need to have a lot of money to be happy.

 

 

How does this service opportunity expand volunteers’ perspective of the world?

Gaining perspective on another way of life offers the understanding that we are more alike than different. Families all over the world want the same things for their children, sometimes we just go about things differently. Gaining an insight into the Pacific culture and how Cook Islanders value people first is perhaps a good reminder for some people and a reinforcement of those values for others.

What are your reflections on Global Volunteers’ 30^th year of service?

At times Debi and I are flabbergasted at the generosity of volunteers. To comprehend that 135 teams have given of their time, energy, wisdom and finances to our wee slice of heaven is sometimes almost incomprehensible. Then to magnify that by the numbers of teams that have supported other communities in other countries almost defies imagination. Global Volunteers  offers hope in the concept of peace. It offers hope in the concept of cooperation. It offers hope in the concept of togetherness.