For volunteer HR Specialist Jackie Cronin, working
overseas wasn’t a sudden decision, but was something that
had been quietly taking shape over many
years.
Jackie’s journey began in Aotearoa New
Zealand where she worked at Trade Aid and later managed
volunteers with IHC. Those experiences introduced her to her
love of community-focused organisations and the meaningful
impact of supporting people behind the
scenes.
“Everything I learnt was on the job,” she
reflects. “I’m not a corporate girl, but working with
NGOs was a passion. Volunteering was an extension of that,
and the timing was right.”
That passion led her to
volunteer through VSA in the Cook Islands, the Solomon
Islands, and eventually to Tonga with her husband, Michael,
where she worked at Tupou Tertiary Institute (TTI) to
strengthen their human resources systems. Her role involved
assessing existing HR policies, developing new ones and
delivering training to staff and managers. While many
processes already existed informally, documenting them and
ensuring consistency was an important step
forward.
One of the key projects that Jackie led was
introducing a performance management policy. This included
reviewing job descriptions, supporting staff to understand
performance appraisals, and helping managers carry out
reviews in a way that was both constructive and culturally
appropriate.
For many staff, this was their first
experience with formal performance discussions. “The main
purpose was to do performance appraisals,” she explains.
“Most staff had not known about this or encountered this
in their working lives, so it was all new.” Through
training and open conversations, staff were also encouraged
to think about their own professional goals and development,
helping to create a culture that supports growth and
learning.
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Mrs Adelina Mafile’o who worked alongside
Jackie at the Institute says that “Jackie’s work has had
a transformative impact on HR practices at TTI. She has
strengthened our HR systems….and she has cultivated a
culture of professionalism, fairness, and accountability
across the Institute.”
Like any volunteer
assignment, the experience came with some challenges,
particularly navigating cultural differences and adapting
systems to reflect local realities. Rather than applying
rigid frameworks, she worked collaboratively with staff to
ensure policies were meaningful and practical within the
Tongan context.
This flexibility helped build trust
and ensured the changes would be sustainable long after her
assignment ended. Jackie was especially encouraged by how
openly staff embraced the changes. “I was surprised at how
well they took on board everything,” she says. “It was a
big amount of work and a lot of change…but they did really
well in that space of time.”
Beyond the workplace,
living in Tonga was a deeply personal experience. Adjusting
to a more conservative culture and slower pace of life took
time, but it also offered valuable perspective. “It has
reinforced that this is ‘my thing’. The values that I
have are reinforced by the work that I do,” Jackie
shares.
Volunteering has also shifted how she sees the
world and what matters most. “It has made us appreciate
what we do have, and not sweat the big stuff,” she says.
“With volunteering, it’s the little things that you do
that can make the biggest impact on someone’s professional
or even personal life.”
Jackie describes life in
Tonga as a reminder of a simpler time. “We feel like
we’ve come back to our childhood,” she says, reflecting
on the sense of community, friendliness, and strong
relationships that shape everyday life. “You hear children
playing outside. People are very friendly… There is more
value on relationships and experiences than on what you
have.”
For Jackie, volunteering has been both
professionally fulfilling and personally transformative. The
gratitude she received from colleagues left a lasting
impression. “I’m so humbled at work because they’re
always thanking me. They’re so appreciative,” she says.
“My colleague Adelina calls me an angel. It makes my heart
full knowing that I am helping.”
Further to this,
Adelina highlights the impact of Jackie’s work within the
Institute and says that “Working alongside Jackie has been
both professionally enriching and personally encouraging….
For this reason, I often refer to her as our ‘TTI Angel’
– because she has consistently gone above and beyond to
support staff, leadership, and the wider Institute
community.”
The impact of Jackie’s work has been
profound. Her message to others considering volunteering is
very simple: “Just do it!…You’d be surprised at what
other roles are available.” Her experience is a reminder
that volunteering isn’t limited to any one profession.
Whether in human resources, education, health or beyond,
volunteers bring valuable skills while gaining something
equally meaningful in return – connection, purpose, and a
deeper appreciation for the communities they work
alongside.
