| A Scientology Volunteer Ministers Goodwill Tour is | | | | “Thank you for this very important |
| targeting drug and alcohol abuse in Tonga, an | | | | program,” wrote one teacher who completed |
| island nation near Samoa in the South Pacific. | | | | this training. He went on to state that the |
| In an interview with Radio Tonga News on the | | | | program enabled him to “solve problems of |
| island of Tongatapu, Mathew Andrews, the leader | | | | teaching and learning on the part of the |
| of the South Pacific team, explained that the tour | | | | students.” |
| concentrates on providing services to address the | | | | Another teacher wrote, “I would suggest that |
| precise problems that exist in the countries they | | | | all teachers who are so-called quality teachers |
| visit. With drug and alcohol abuse among | | | | should have this in mind where they are teaching. |
| Tonga’s youth a critical concern to officials, | | | | Many teachers tend to use corporal |
| non-profit groups and individuals, the tour will be | | | | punishment,” he continued, “due to the |
| providing workshops to combat this substance | | | | lack of strategies or methods on the part of the |
| abuse and addiction. | | | | teacher.” |
| | | | |
| The Scientology Volunteer Ministers will also offer | | | | The Goodwill Tour also provides workshops on |
| seminars and courses in conflict resolution and | | | | how to improve communication skills, and training |
| natural disaster emergency | | | | in Scientology Assists, a technology that |
| preparedness—subjects that have proven | | | | addresses the mental and spiritual aspects of a |
| popular throughout the South Pacific countries the | | | | person’s physical difficulties. |
| tour has thus far visited. | | | | Having already provided similar guidance and |
| Demand also runs high throughout the region for | | | | training in Fiji and Samoa, the Scientology |
| training in the study technology developed by | | | | Volunteer Ministers South Pacific Goodwill Tours |
| Scientology founder, L. Ron Hubbard. The tour | | | | will be in Tonga for three months before |
| recently held a training session for students and | | | | continuing on to Papua New Guinea and the |
| teachers in one of the colleges on Tongatapu. | | | | Solomon Islands. |