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Teach Children to Read and More

Few places in the world are as beautiful and idyllic as the Cook Islands of the South Pacific. Unspoiled ancient mountains ringed by crystal-clear, turquoise water attracted a hearty and self-reliant Maori people. Today, the beauty remains, but local people are challenged by a declining population, a weakened economy, and lost social supports. Your "helping hands" provide essential resources to the island's youth and adults! Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds - including families - find important and enjoyable ways to help deliver essential services on the island of Rarotonga.

Global Volunteers works through the Cook Islands Association of Non-Government Organizations (CIANGO). This non-profit organization coordinates the activities of non-government agencies throughout the islands, and works towards the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Nearly 100 local, regional and national organizations collaborate through the CIANGO offices to improve educational, health and social services on the islands. Some of the island work partners include: Takitumu School, Te Kainga School, Cook Islands National Council of Women, the Pacific Islands AIDS Foundation, Immanuela Aketemia School, Tereora College, Cook Islands Red Cross, the Disability Action Team, the Virtues Project, the Cook Islands Library and Museum Society, the Takitumu Conservation Area, the Whale Research Centre, St Josephs School, and Te Uki Ou School.


Essential Services in the Cook Islands

Global Volunteers has worked with the Cook Islands Association of Non-Government Organizations (CIANGO) to identify projects that need volunteer assistance since 1998. As an essential link in a long chain of volunteers on Rarotonga, you can help deliver essential services to local people in a number of ways:

  • tutoring elementary and middle school students
  • demonstrating study skills and assisting with homework
  • teaching health, nutrition and hygiene
  • promoting girls' education
  • demonstrating effective hand washing
  • starting and maintaining school gardens
  • organizing school libraries
  • assisting local heath care workers with public health campaigns