New Chapter and New Partnerships for Volunteer Service Abroad in Tamaki Makaurau

David Vaeafe (left) welcomes Toleafoa Neil So’onalole (right) to the Pacific Cooperation Foundation Offices

Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest international volunteer agency, operating for almost 60-years. In the past month, it has launched a new and exciting Pacific Partnerships role and established a VSA office in Tamaki Makaurau. 

A role dedicated to engagement with Pacific organisations and communities in Aotearoa, VSA’s Partnerships Liaison - Pacific Peoples, Toleafoa Neil So’onalole, aims to strengthen VSA’s connections with Pacific led organisations and communities, starting in the Auckland region.   

Neil is a New Zealand-born Samoan, raised in Samoa. He came to New Zealand in 2005 and has since worked and lived in Auckland communities. “Partnerships connect people and transforms lives.” Neil says, and he humbly noted the value of anyone who offers his or her time to serve the community as a volunteer. He believes that all volunteers are unsung heroes who play a significant role in making positive change in the community. 

“We are very thankful to be sharing an office with our friends from Pacific Cooperation Foundation and looking forward to our Pacific partnerships helping to shape VSA’s volunteering programme in our region for years to come.” says Neil. 

Pacific Cooperation Foundation Project Manager David Vaeafe said “having VSA housed in our fale was a natural connection and while we worked in different areas, all our work was across the entire Pacific region”.  

To read more about international volunteer development with VSA, visit vsa.org.nz.