• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Gift Catalog
  • Donate
  • Register Now
  • Contact Us
Call Us: 800-487-1074
Global Volunteers
  • Countries
    • International Partnerships:
      • China
      • Cook Islands
      • Cuba
      • Ecuador
      • Greece
      • Italy
      • Nepal
      • Peru
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • St Lucia
      • Tanzania
      • Vietnam
    • USA Programs:
      • Appalachia – West Virginia
      • Blackfeet Reservation – Montana
      • Rosebud Reservation – South Dakota
      • Española – New Mexico
  • Projects
  • Give
    • Giving Options:
      • Donate Now
      • Gift Catalog
      • Ways to Give
      • Philanthropy
  • Impact
  • Blog
  • Search
  • Menu Menu
Development Impact Cook Islands

COVID-19’s Toughest Blow to The Cook Islands: The Economy

Cook Islands Team Leader Sam Ellison reported to the Global Volunteers office on how the COVID-19 crisis has impacted Rarotonga, and why volunteers’ help will be an integral part of their recovery. Peru Country Manager Daniel Salazar looks into the problem further.


By Daniel Salazar

The Cook Islands has no confirmed cases of COVID-19, but that doesn’t mean it’s all good news for them. The main economic activity of the country, tourism (accounting for approximately 70% of production), is stalled. Restaurants, resorts, and other tourism activity are shut down with only New Zealand flights with supplies and medical provisions allowed. In the U.S., it would take all manufacturing, trade (retail and wholesale), services (education, social assistance, health care, finance, insurance, real state, etc.), and government spending to stop for the economy to take an equivalent hit.

When borders re-open and the dust settles a little, service efforts like the one we provide here with Global Volunteers will be an integral part of our ‘bounce back’.

James Puati, Global Volunteers Cook Islands Country Manager

The horizon seems dimmer if we consider that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) graduated the Cook Islands to the category of High-Income Country, ending eligibility for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) starting this year. This means that on average, the country has a high income relative to other countries, but it doesn’t mean that the population is well-off. According to the last official data, 30% of Rarotonga’s population could not meet basic needs for a decent standard of living – and that was when tourism was active. The OECD graduation then means that the development assistance they receive will probably drop significantly when the country needs it the most.

Volunteers tutor school children in reading, numeracy, and English pronunciation in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

Thankfully, our Country Manager, James Puati, was able to deliver volunteers’ donations of school stationary before schools closed in March and volunteers were unable to travel to the island. Schools were actively pursuing home-schooling options amid the COVID-19 crisis, so those donations were gratefully received. That’s just another example of how the support of our volunteers has a positive impact on this community. But it also tells of the increased need of external support in the future. As James put it, “Looking forward (whatever that looks like?), we will require huge support. The ineligibility of the Cook Islands for ODA will have huge implications in the recovery process post COVID-19. When borders re-open and the dust settles a little, service efforts like the one we provide here with Global Volunteers will be an integral part of our ‘bounce back’.”

Indeed, one of the lessons of this crisis is that the world is really one big country, and when thinking of rebuilding our homes, we cannot forget about our neighbors in Rarotonga. Learn more about how you can help as a volunteer in the Cook Islands here.


More on The Cook Islands:

Teacher Retiree Promises to Explore the World With a Student’s Curiosity

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)
April 15, 2020/0 Comments/by Daniel Salazar
Tags: cook islands economy, covid-19, covid-19 consequences, tourism cook islands
https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Children-cook-islands-school-covid-19-scaled.jpg 1000 1500 Daniel Salazar https://205eev2oa0jm1t4yb914s1nw-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2014-GlobalVolunteersLogo-Web.png Daniel Salazar2020-04-15 10:00:002020-06-16 16:18:40COVID-19’s Toughest Blow to The Cook Islands: The Economy
You might also like
Peruvian Children Feed Others with Bread of Love During Pandemic
0 replies

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

You must log in to post a comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Partner Communities

  • China 66
  • Cook Islands 44
  • Cuba 118
  • Ecuador 88
  • Greece 69
  • Italy 54
  • Montana 42
  • Nepal 16
  • Peru 99
  • Poland 77
  • Portugal 42
  • South Dakota 8
  • St Lucia 58
  • Tanzania 154
  • Vietnam 44
  • West Virginia 24

Categories

  • Boomer Volunteers
  • Conversational English
  • Couples Volunteering
  • Culture and Traditions Worldwide
  • Development Impact
  • Family Volunteers
  • Free Time Options
  • Global Volunteers
  • Group Volunteering
  • Impact Stories
  • Individuals on Teams
  • Projects for Professionals
  • Reaching Children's Potential
  • Repeat Volunteers
  • Retiree Volunteers
  • Staff Worldwide
  • Student Volunteers
  • Uncategorized
  • Volunteer Voices
  • Women volunteers

Tags

alumni volunteers American Indian culture Appalachian culture best destination peru Care for children Caribbean island College groups Conversational English cook islands economy covid-19 covid-19 consequences Cuba people-to-people donate for children Earthbox gardens economic support Essential Services food insecurity Funding your fee Health and nutrition High school groups Labor projects lgbt program peru resume resume high shcool retiree service-learning share food Spring break summer volunteer program support children Support women teaching children teaching english team leader things to do peru top places to visit peru tourism cook islands tours peru travel peru volunteer benefits Volunteer impact work on reservations Work with youth youth volunteering

  • About Us
  • Boards of Directors and Advisors
  • US and International Staff
  • Our Beginnings
  • Our Vision
  • Community Partners
  • Collaborators
  • Compare Us
  • Volunteer Vacations FAQs
  • Accountability and Agreements
  • Travel Risks
  • Impact and Outcomes of Service
  • Donate to Global Volunteers
  • Donate to a Volunteer
  • Money Matters – Explaining Your Service Program Contribution
  • Discounts & Fundraising
  • Alumni Center
  • News/Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Agreements
  • Site Map
  • Contact
  • Podcast
  • Volunteer Portal
  • Employment
Global Volunteers
375 East Little Canada Road
St. Paul, MN 55117-1628 USA
(800) 487-1074 | toll-free
(651) 482-0915 | fax
globalvolunteers.org
email@globalvolunteers.org

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Subscribe receive notifications of new posts and updates by email.

Global Volunteers - Partners in Development ® | © Copyright 2002 - Present Global Volunteers
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Global Volunteers is an apolitical, non-sectarian, non-profit (501C-3) tax-exempt organization.
  • Send feedback about this web site and its administration.
Your Guide To Volunteer Travel In St. Lucia – Chemida Popo-Cox Your Guide To Volunteer Travel In St. Lucia - Chemida Popo-Cox Living Under Lockdown – COVID – 19 In Greece
Scroll to top
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.