Fe'iloakitau Kaho Tevi, working with the Pacific Desk at the World Council of Churches was on a flying visit to Tonga this week to pursue two issues with Pacific Church representatives. Working out of Geneva, Fei was joined by represenatives of 16 different Churches covering 11 countries of the South Pacific at the FWC Conference center in Tongatapu. Their objective, to increase awareness among Pacific Churches of opportunities to improve communications, and to take a practical look at what can be done today to attack the deterioration of archives held by churches and national archives.

The "Consultation" was held between August 13 - 15, 2002 and supported through representatives from the Government of Tonga, Tonga National Museum and the Tonga Broadcasting Commission.



Archiving.

The archival presentations, discussions revolved around specialists brought in by Fei to provide representatives with current information on practical methodologies for preserving resources of national importance. These measures ranged from keeping areas dust free, banning food, smoke, and pens from storage areas to more expensive (but approachable) solutions such as the humidity and temperature levels and storage alternatives.



The presentations also assessed the technical merits of digitised archives, limitations, requirements as well as practical approaches where the local archives can begin to prioritise materials that can be digitised using off-the-shelf computer equipment.



Maka Tohi, engineer at the Tonga Broadcasting Commission lead a detailed discussion on Magnetic, Optical storage medium as well as the importance of the original recording equipment and dubbing equipment. Samiuela Taufa an ICT person lead discussions on practical means and demonstrations of digitising print, audio, and video records as well as artifacts/ 3D objects using off-the-shelf affordable technology.



Communications.

Recognising the difficulties faced by churches in extending their mission work to nationals both local and overseas, the discussions covered an extensive range of communication strategies available today to most churches using existing ICT equipment available to most of them. Strategy discussions approached 'fad' services such as having a web presence and CHAT facilities for overseas nationals, as well as practical TODAY initiatives such as newsletters, booklets, and correspondence.



Representatives were not given step-by-step tutorials but were given many resources, resource ideas how training can be gained through both fee based and volunteer based resources. For example, one method picked up by representatives was to see their children, and ICT experts within their churches as significant training resources.



Archive Example.

One of the fascinating parts of the forum was the presentations by Rev. Tevita 'Ofahulu of the Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga's archives. Rev. 'Ofahulu as a professed untrained Archivist showed a number initiatives on his part (both good and bad) in his push to archive records of the FWC both significant to the church as well as the nation.



Representatives were given a treat, possibly a first for forums in the Pacific. All representatives left the delegation with a CD ROM containing all "Consultation" presentations, summaries, templates, and Software to assist them in their applying their new knowledge at their home church/organisation.



For more information, write a letter to:

Rev. Tevita 'Ofahulu

Archives

Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga

Nuku'alofa, Tongatapu

Kingdom of TONGA


Unfortunately Rev. 'Ofahulu doesn't have Internet/Email access at work, so you could put in a few dollars with your letter to let him get a phone line so he can get online.


Otherwise, if you have a comment that you would like to make to the names above, drop a comment in the Forums and they'll get to see it. We're looking for people who can help, if we can afford we will otherwise volunteers signficantly sought.


Taholo Kami was principal coordinator, facilitator of the program.