​Close to 30 nofotane earners in Savaii travelled as far as Sasina, Faletagaloa Safune, Satupaitea, Saleaula, Samalaeulu, Puapua, Lano, Siufaga, Fogapoa, Faala, Salimu, Vailoa and Vaega to attend the 7th self-esteem session for the Canadian funded project that was held at the SVSG Tuasivi Office.
 
Despite the long distance to travel, the nofotane women gathered to share on the successes of their new business ventures following the Nofotane Project they previously attended.

Some have set up canteens at the village schools selling banana, taro and ulu chips, pork buns and a variety of bakery products.  Others have delivered their woven products such as fans and bags to the village shops, while the rest have mastered the different elei design and printing, and have tried to complement these with sewing.
 
What came out clearer from the nofotane women’s sharing was their confidence, which SHINES through their testimonies, making the self-esteem workshop all the more exciting for them.

And the inspirational speaker Mr. Oloapu Kaisarita, the SVSG village representative for Vaiafai Iva, related well to the women’s improved self-esteem.  As a businessman himself, Oloapu spoke about hard work and perseverance.  “It is through the work of these hands that financed my children’s education, put food on our table, and enabled me to contribute to the church and the village.  If you do not work, I’m sorry but you are not yet empowered socially and economically.”
 
With the nofotane earners improved confidence, they openly discussed the challenge with the limited markets available for their products in Savaii.  Most of the earners are however grateful of the demand for their products from overseas buyers requested through the SVSG Office.  One of the objectives of the Canadian funded project is to link the nofotane earners to relevant market affiliations such as WIBDI, SAME or the Samoa Business Network.  Through these market affiliations, the nofotane earners will be adequately supported.
 
“A nofotane woman will always be a nofotane; the project is not attempting to change this aspect of our culture, but merely aims to ensure sustainability of being empowered because a strong, proud and successful community, does not tolerate any form of violence against women.” Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President

​The nofotane women who have set up new business ventures in Sagone, Fogatuli, Vaipuna, Siutu and Salailua following SVSG’s Nofotane Project in the past, shared the same mentality towards their products, and that is with regards to quality improvement.
 
According to Taufao Loli Matauaina of Vaipua “I have to continuously improve the quality of my products to be more competitive in the market.”

60% of the nofotane women from this 6th session of self-esteem workshops funded by the Canadian government, have been the proud suppliers of siapo or tapa cloth, recycled woven bags, and elei for orders received by SVSG from its overseas supporters in New Zealand, Australia and America.
 
As such, these women knew exactly what makes their products sellable as they continued to work on quality improvement.  With a bit of innovation, the nofotane women have integrated new designs into their products to make them more attractive to the buyers.
 
The inspirational speaker for this 6th session was none other than a local business woman and a nofotane herself, Mrs. Tuaoialii Tuato of Salailua who encouraged the new earners that “nothing in life comes easy; you have to go through a lot of challenges in order for you to become stronger.”
 
The aim of the Canada Fund for Local Initiative Project implemented by SVSG in partnership with the Canadian government is to ensure sustainable income generation and self-employment of nofotane women in Samoa.
 
Just like the rest of the nofotane earners under the SVSG empowerment program, the nofotane women of Sagone, Fogatuli, Vaipuna, Siutu and Salailua have the SVSG village representatives in their respective villages to provide them with ongoing mentorship as they continued with their new business ventures.
 
“Keep up the good work ladies, remember, a nofotane woman will always be a nofotane; the project is not attempting to change this aspect of our culture, but merely aims to ensure sustainability of being empowered because a strong, proud and successful community, does not tolerate any form of violence against women.” Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President

​It was all smiles at the 5th session of self-esteem workshops called SHINE, hosted by the Falealupo community for the nofotane earners from Tufutafoe, Fagasa, Falelima and Falealupo.
 
The workshop is part of the Canada Fund for Local Initiative Project carried out by Samoa Victim Support Group for the nofotane women who have previously trained on livelihood skills under the UN Women Fund for Gender Equality Project, and have progressed to become earners and/or breadwinners for their families.
 
The problem in which the Project aims to address is the unsustainable income generation for nofotane women who have started a small business. This is due to the lack of resource to support their businesses and a lack of confidence to maintain the momentum for self-employment.
 
At the Falealupo session, SVSG was amazed at the transformation in the women’s lives, and that of their families. This was evidence by the unity and joyful spirit amongst the nofotane women and their husbands who volunteered to attend the self-esteem workshop to support their wives.
 
The nofotane earners shared on how they have formed support networks amongst themselves to encourage each other in their newly formed business ventures.  To ensure that other families enjoy the benefits of being economically empowered, the nofotane earners have gone a step further and conducted livelihood skills training for the unemployed women in their villages, encouraging them to build relationships with others and open savings accounts for rainy days.
 
For the nofotane earners from Tufutafoe, Fagasa, Falelima and Falealupo, each woman now has a Bank Account which attest to the nofotane women’s understanding of the basics in managing their finances.  When the Project Team left Falealupo, we were humbled by the ability of the nofotane women to SHINE through their empowerment.  Their smiles and that of their husbands say it all.
 
“A nofotane woman will always be a nofotane; the project is not attempting to change this aspect of our culture, but merely aims to ensure sustainability of being empowered because a strong, proud and successful community, does not tolerate any form of violence against women.” Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President

​The Buddying up program in which the Samoa Victim Support Group and the International Labour Organisation have been working on to get the child vendors back to school, has been a success.  A total of 30 child vendors participated in the 10-day program from 21 – 30 January 2019.  With the Program coming to an end, there will be new beginnings for 12 vendors ages 6, 7 and 8 who should be enrolled for the first time as primary school students before the end of February 2019.
 
SVSG’s ‘next step’, is to source out sponsorship for these children’s education covering birth certificates to school uniforms to enrolment fees and other miscellaneous costs.
 
For 10 years old Faustina Aperaamo of Falelauniu, she is the proud recipient of a scholarship worth $1,000 courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Eli Tagi of New Zealand, to cover Faustina’s education for the whole of 2019.  Due to financial hardships in her home, Faustina has been out of school for 2 year.
 
For the rest of the child vendors ages 10 to 17, opportunities are available to attend the Hot Soup Skill Building training program carried out by SVSG at the Campus of Hope currently funded by the Office of the US Embassy.
 
But looking back to the child vendors journey from Day 1 up to this second to last day of the program, the SVSG Juniors, have achieved so much more than they have set out to do; the children are now more disciplined, they have learnt the importance of respect, working as a team, looking after each other; most of all, the children have valued the importance of education.
 
How can they not when they have visited workplaces to challenge them to reach for the sky.  Apart from the visits to the Fire and Emegency Services Authourity, the Ministry of Police, the children also visited the TV3, the Samoa Rugby Union, the Samoa Observer, the Radio 2AP, and Taumeasina Island Resort.
 
Today, in giving back to the community, the child vendors and their youth buddies cleaned up the town area from the Flea Market at Sogi to the Black Sand beach at the Apia Waterfront.  It was a fun activity that taught the children to be responsible for our environment.

The ‘graduation ceremony’ for the child vendors will be held at the Campus of Hope at Tuanaimato on Wednesday, 30 January 2019 at 9.00am where the children will be awarded with Certificates. Special awards for the Best Buddy and for the Most Disciplined Buddy will also be presented.  With the ending of the Buddying up Program, new beginnings are now set for its partcipants.

​The Initial Meeting for some of the networks of Breaking the Cycle: Men and Boys Engage Project to end violence against women, hosted Samoa Victim Support Group from 21 – 25 January 2019, ended well for the youth of Samoa.  
 
This was through the signing of three separate Memorandum of Understandings between SVSG and the three participating organizations at the week-long global meeting, namely the Centro Rural Joven Vida (C.E.R.U.J.O.V.I.) Spain, Emancipator in Netherlands and the Centre for Health and Social Justice in India
 
It has been an outcome that will see the SVSG Juniors opened up to capacity building and/or expert sharing of experiences through South-South exchange programs with its new partners, officiated through MoUs signed during the farewell function.
 
Held at the Campus of Hope Tuanaimato, they were farewelled in style with traditional dancing from the St. Andrews Youth of the Catholic Church Faleula, the Taupou Manaia Dance Group, and the Sisters of Hope; the fire dance from the male residence of the Campus, and the live band by the SVSG Junior.
 
While new strategies on breaking the cycle of violence against women will see the SVSG Juniors advocating for changing mindsets in men and boys about masculinity, the youth will also continue with its role of being the voice for the voiceless, as per its Buddying up program with child vendors, that was rolled out at the same time as hosting the global meeting.
 
The SVSG Juniors is Samoa Victim Support Group’s succession plan. Over the years, SVSG has been paving the way to ensure that the youth members under the group will be strong and ready to take up their role as future leaders.
 
Exciting times are ahead as two representatives from the SVSG Juniors, namely Mr. Franziska Sione, the SVSG Junior Coordinator, and Mr. Mane Su’a, the SVSG Child Protection Officer are preparing for the second round of international gatherings for Breaking the Cycle Project in New Delhi India, in March 2019.

​Much has been said about the children’s right to education, the exposure of the children to danger on the street as vendors and how a nation’s future lies with our children.
 
However, on Day 2 of the Buddy up program by the SVSG (Juniors) and the child vendors, what came out clearer from observing the child vendors under the Program is that, they are excited to learn, just like all our children.
 
The boys started the day learning about our culture, taking up the young untitled men’s role during the ava ceremony to welcome the delegates to the International Youth Meeting hosted by the Samoa Victim Support Group.  It was at this ceremony that they got to meet Tomasi Peni of the International Labour Organisation, the donor for this program.  The girls on the other hand joined the SVSG staff at the office for its normal prayer meetings every Tuesdays and Thursdays morning
 
The workplace tours that followed saw a transformation in attitude towards learn, not only for the child vendors, but more so for the youths that they are buddying up with.  At the Fire and Emergency Services Authority, Commander Kueni Alatimu took the children for a tour of the facilities, explaining the basics in safety during an emergency.  The children were curious and there were lots of questions. Most noticeable was how the children and the youths scribbled away in their exercise books as they updated their diaries on their learning adventure.
 
From FESA, the next stop was at the Ministry of Police, where Inspector Tologatā Misieliota Tamaleaoa, the Assistant Commissioner of the Community Engagement Unit danced through his demonstrate to the children on the Ministry’s role for a safer Samoa.
 
Culminating a long day of learning was a lunch enjoyed by the children and their youth buddies at the Pinati Restaurant; again, for most of them, it was the first time they have sat down and enjoyed a meal in a restaurant.
 
It has been an exciting day of learning for the Buddying up program.  Seeing the eagerness in their eyes as we went from place to place, their curious questions, all along, clinging onto their youth buddies, it has been a rewarding experience.
 
The possibilities are numerous, as the opportunities opened up by getting the child vendors to learn and be excited about it, will eventually lead them back to the classrooms.

​The Initial Meeting for the 12 months project with the Centro Rural Joven Vida (CERUJOVI) Spain was officially opened today at the Travellers Point Hotel, Malifa.
 
The participants from India, Netherlands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Madagascar were welcomed by the host, Samoa Victim Support Group, through the traditional ava ceremony performed by the SVSG Juniors.
 
The opening of the Initial Meeting was well attended by representatives of SVSG’s partners from the Ministry of Women, Community & Social Development, the National Health Services, the Fire & Emergency Services Authority, the International Labour Organisation and Digicel Samoa.
 
Pastor Kurt Fatupaito of the Potters House Christian Church Vaitele officiated the opening with the Word of God, reminding the gathering about the men of God’s responsibilities to their families, their wives and their children, to live in peace and harmony, not violence.
 
As the lead organistion for the Project, Ms. Katarzyna (Kaska) Reyes Czechowicz acknowledged the support from SVSG in hosting the Initial Meeting.  “Samoa Victim Support Group’s motto is ‘We Support; We Help; We Care, We are your family, and since we arrived, we felt like part of the SVSG family.”
 
Speaking on the project, Ms. Czechowicz reiterated on the importance of breaking the cycle of violence in our work to address violence against women while promoting gender equality, as per the Project: Breaking the Cycle of Violence: Men and Boys Engage to End Violence Against Women and to Promote Gender Equality.
 
The 12-months project includes the Initial Meeting in Samoa, a Seminar in India, a Study Tour in the Netherlands, a Training Program in Sri Lanka and the Global Youth Gathering in Spain.
 
For SVSG, to be a part of this multi-partnered project is an opportunity for its youth to be further empowered to stand up against violence towards women, engaging men and boys in breaking the cycle of violence.
 
The Initial Meeting is for five days from 21 – 25 January 2019 at the Travellers Point Hotel, Malifa.

​The youth groups under the umbrella of the SVSG (Juniors) gathered today at the Campus of Hope, Tuanaimato to kick start its first activities for 2019, with its Buddying up Program with Child Vendors.
 
Funded by the International Labour Organsation, 30 child vendors from Vaiusu, Tafaigata, Falelauniu and Nuu-fou were buddied up today with SVSG (Junior) youths from the Luatuanuu CCCS Youth, the Fasitoo-uta Youth, the Shrine of the Three Hearts Youth the SVSG Youth Empowerment Program, and the Sisters of Hope.
 
George Komiti, the SVSG (Junior) youth from Toamua opened the program with a prayer, followed by the keynote address by Eli Tagi of WE Accounting and Business Services in New Zealand.  As a qualified Charterd Accountant with an Accounting Firm established in New Zealand in 2011, Eli Tagi, also of Satapuala and Sataua, spoke on the importance of having and education.  “It doesn’t matter which school you go to ….. whether you are rich or poor, what matters is that you have an education, and that you try your best.”
 
Ligi Toomata, the SVSG Village Reprentative for Vaiusu encouraged the children as a mother, reminding them that both the children and the parents have a part to play in the children’s education. 
 
A representative from the Emanicpator in the Netherlands, who is here for the Youth Global Meeting hosted by the SVSG here in Apia, also attended the official opening of the SVSG and the ILO Buddying Up Program.
 
Following the formalities, the child vendors and the youth members were buddied up based on their age and gender.  There was a Buddy Registration, photo sessions and an opportunity for each buddies to get to know each other, before they presented to the whole group.  While it is still early in the program, we have seen how the youths have shown patience, love and support towards the child vendors. 
 
Out of the 30 child vendors participating in the Buddy up Program age 7 – 17 years old, 95% of them have never been to school before, and as such, needs a lot of help with writing their names, reading the basic learning.
 
For the next 10 days, the SVSG (Juniors) will ensure that they will support these children through their learning journey.  Activities for the remaining of the Buddy up program will include visits to different workplaces, giving the children an exposure to workplaces besides the streets, thereby encouraging them be educated.

​​In partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Samoa Victim Support will official launch the Buddy up Program with Child Vendors on Monday, 21st January 2019 at the Campus of Hope, Tuanaimato.
 
The Program aims at addressing the child vendor problem in Samoa where the vendors as young as 5 years old are exposed to maltreatment and/or exploitation from working on the streets.
 
While the majority of children are preparing for the beginning of another school year, the child vendors continued to work on the streets as employers for their families.
 
As such, the youth members under the SVSG (Juniors) sub-group will buddy up with a child vendor to influence some form of mentality change towards working on the streets.  More than 30 child vendors have been registered to take part in the Buddy up program, with buddies drawn from close to 10 church youth groups registered with the SVSG (Juniors).
 
Part of the program will include the child vendors visiting some of the workplaces around town to give them an idea of what safety in the world of work relates to.  According to the International Labour Organisation, “Child labour is a violation of fundamental human rights and has been shown to hinder children’s development, pontentially leading to lifelong physical or psychological damage.”
 
The expected outcomes of the program include improving self-esteem of the child vendors and their progress through the Hot Soup Skill Building program coordinated by SVSG; and/or the enrolment of some of the child vendors in the mainstream education.

​Samoa Victim Support Group will host the Initial Meeting for some of the networks of the MenEngage Global Alliance from 21 – 25 January 2019 at the Travellers Point Hotel, Apia.
 
The Meeting is coordinated by the Centro Rural Joven Vida (CERUJOVI), a non-profit organization based in Spain.  It will be attended by representatives from five partner organisations for the Men & Boys Engage Project, such as the Emancipator in Nethelands, the Youth First in Madagascar, the Foundation for Innovative Social Development in Sri Lanka, the Centre for Health and Social Justice in India and Samoa Victim Support Group, Samoa.
 
CERUJOVI is a center of rural development, which works on comprehensive programs for the development of rural communities. It also works in all the sectors of the population, especially those who are more disadvantaged, such as the youth, children, women and elderly.
 
SVSG’s involvement with the Men & Boys Engage Project is through its youth sub-group, the SVSG (Juniors), whose participants will join the MenEngage Global Alliance in being empowered through capacity building and fostering network with other partners to the Project. 
 
By building on the capacity of its youth and fostering youth relationship with international partner organsiations, this is all part of SVSG’s succession plans as the Group look towards its youth sub-group, the SVSG (Junior) to take on the future direction of SVSG.
 
Following the Project’s Initial Meeting in Samoa, there will be a Seminar in New Delhi India in March 2019 and a Study Tour in Amsterdam Netherlands in May.
 
SVSG is looking forward to welcome the participants of the Initial Meeting for the Men & Boys Engage Project to Samoa.

In September this year the findings of a public inquiry into family violence in Samoa were officially released, and uncovered extremely high levels of violence against women and girls.

Data from the inquiry indicated that 9.5 per cent of the female respondents reported being raped by a family member in their lifetime. 

The story of 18-year-old Leilua Lino is of a girl turning tragedy into a cause to empower survivors of sexual violence — having been raped by her own biological father at the age of nine, and being bold to testify against him in Court and later raise awareness in primary schools on child abuse — for the benefit of children across Samoa.

Her testimony in Court — despite her mother’s plea that he was a “good man” — proved crucial in ensuring her father was sentenced to 29 years imprisonment.

Last month Leilua received international recognition for her work at the Samoa Victim Support Group, when she was announced as one of three finalists for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2018, as her primary-school and community-focused awareness has reached over 3000 children and compelled over 100 children to report abuse, according to the Amsterdam-based not-for-profit organisation KidsRights Foundation.

The courage that she is showing and the lives that she is impacting in community schools in Samoa and in the communities makes her a nominee for the Samoa Observer People of the Year 2018. 

Speaking to the Samoa Observer recently, Leilua said she came from a poor family and her mother sold cucumbers to raise her and her seven brothers’ school fees.

Her life changed when her father started drinking and would beat her up in rage.

“When I was young, my relationship with my parents was very good, I used to love going to school. My school experience had its ups and downs.

“But everything changed when my father started drinking, it changed his ways. My father was a good man, he always goes to church, but when alcohol was introduced in his life he stopped going to church.

“At the age of nine, my whole life turned upside down. It never crossed my mind that my own biological father could do something like this and that was when he raped me at a young age,” she said.

Her mother did not believe her when she told her of the incident, according to Leilua.

“As I cried myself to sleep every night, the thought of my own mother not helping me tore me apart from within. My mother would always tell me, after it happened, that my father was a good man. But I pleaded with my mother that I needed her help. My cry for help was not heard and I used to wonder if there was a reason for my existence, because no one loved me, even my own blood.”

Leilua’s abusive father eventually stopped her from attending school, and ordered that she stayed home and did the house chores. On Sundays, she found solace in the church’s Sunday school class, and one day opened up on her abuse by her father with best friend Rosalina.

“She (Rosalina) advised me to seek help because I was young and my situation was not something that could happen to me at that age. She told our pastor if he could spare his time to talk to me.

“I then shared with our pastor Lio and he asked me three times if I am really in need of help and I said yes, please help me. Our pastor contacted Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) who sent a representative to speak to me about what happened,” she added.

Leilua moved to the SVSG — who then helped her to file a police statement that incriminated her father — and opened a new chapter in her life, by becoming an “ambassador for peace” and reaching out to children exposed to abuse through her Peace Garden and raising awareness. 

“I created peace gardens in our campus which have helped 200 children to recover from trauma. I was set on becoming an ambassador of peace, to change lives of those that suffered the same fate as mine to convince them in life they are not alone; there is always someone out there that can give a helping hand.

“In life, I want to be a light that is shone upon those that have no voice; I want to dedicate my life in serving God’s purpose and not of my own desires. In the end I had the chance to forgive my own father of what he did to me not for him but for my own peace. 

“In the bible it says that if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins your Father will not forgive your sins,” she added.

Samoa Observer By Adel Fruean , 30 December 2018

Weightlifter Feagaiaga Stowers was just 17 years old when she won gold at the Commonwealth Games held on Australia’s Gold Coast in April.

It was a crowning moment for perhaps Samoa’s brightest young athlete.

And Stowers’ star shines even brighter given the darkness that surrounded her upbringing. A survivor of abuse, there was a time when Stowers used to think her life didn’t mean anything.

“Not being able to be with family is the saddest thing,” she told the Samoa Observer in 2016.

“I used to be afraid of the outside world and I thought that everyone was just as evil as the people who hurt me.”

She was taken in by the S.V.S.G Campus of Hope in 2013 and the only person she felt she could trust was ‘Mama Lina’, the SVGS president Siliniu Lina Chang.

“Feagaiaga has come a long way from a shy and hopeless survivor to a champion that she is today,” Siliniu said in a statement after the Commonwealth Games.

She said Stowers was one of the girl survivors of violence that took up weightlifting as part of their rehabilitation programme in 2015 through a partnership with the Samoa Weightlifting Federation.

“Through weightlifting, she found a way to release her anger and her sense of hopelessness.”

S.W.F president and head coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork told the Samoa Observer after the Commonwealth Games that he saw potential in Stowers the first time he had met her.

“Feagaiga is a special young lady. I think when I say special, she’s had a bit of tough upbringing.”

He said he is happy that weightlifting has saved her and given her the right path to follow.
“We just needed to instil the discipline, the drive, the direction to guide her.”

He said she’s a quiet young lady, and rarely says a word even to her coach who she works with daily.

“Even when she’s injured, she still doesn’t say a word, so I have to find out from some of the senior girls that she’s injured.”

In an interview with Samoa Observer in 2016, Stowers said that Tuaopepe gave her hope by introducing her to weightlifting, the sport which gave her a second chance at life.
“Once I got to train with Tuaopepe and I saw how amazing it is to be noticed and appreciated by people, that really cheered me up.

“So coming in here has made me realise that what happened in past is the past but it is up to us to choose which pathway to take, it is up to us whether we dwell on the past or start a new beginning for our own self.

“He didn’t look at my background; he didn’t look at my past but he focused on how I can become somebody in the future.”

Tuaopepe said she has the same natural talent as Ele Opeloge, and is every chance to emulate the Olympic silver medallist lifter.

“So for her to reach this level at this young age, and she’s only been lifting for three years, or little bit less than three years, is fantastic.”

Stowers told the Samoa Observer after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games she never thought it could happen.

“What I have learnt from this competition is to not run away from challenges; God will always make things possible.”

She said the medal wasn’t just for her, but also her family, friends, country and teammates.

Stowers will always be grateful to Siliniu for pushing her to do something that matters in life.

The S.V.S.G president said Stowers’ success was humbling, not just for the gold medal, but because of her successful reintegration into society.

“With confidence and determination, the once shy teenage girl is now a Champion in her own right; a survivor living life to the fullest outside of the Campus of Hope.”

That former shy teenage girl is training every day for upcoming International Weightlifting Federation World Cup in China next February, before the Pacific Games is held in Samoa in July.

Her long term goal is the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, where she’ll hope to match or better Ele Opeloge’s silver medal at Beijing 2008.

Given all that she’s come through in her first 18 years of life, you would have to back this member of the Samoa Observer’s People of the Year 2018 to keep on shining.

Samoa Observer By Thomas Airey , 30 December 2018

​As young volunteers for Samoa Victim Support Group under the SVSG (Juniors) sub-group, we have watched, observed and marveled at the magnitude of the work being carried out by SVSG for our community in need, let alone, the operation of the only shelter facility in Samoa for abused and vulnerable children, the Campus of Hope.
 
We asked ourselves, “How can we as the youth, better support the mother organization as part of SVSG’s succession plan?”
 
The answer lies not in us taking up casework assistance, child protection, court support or shelter operations as per SVSG’s mandate, but rather, in how we can give back to the community that has supported and entrusted SVSG to be a service provider.
 
The idea was reaffirmed after seeing the children at the Campus, struggled with their daily routine on one particular day when they were without water.  It brought home the reality of the same struggle faced by many of our families who do not have access to clean water.
 
SVSG’s Welfare Database attested to many of our families in need of welfare assistance.  And therein lies the focus of SVSG (Juniors) fundraising drives over the last 3 months, through the Zumba and the Hope Concert – to give back to the community through a drive for clean water.  Our target was to supply 10 x 10,000 litre water tanks to 10 families under the SVSG database, in need of clean water.
 
Today, we acknowledge with gratitude the support from our donors, both here and abroad, who have made this Clean Water project a reality.  A special thank you to Fred Yazadani, General Manager of the Rotomould Water Tank at Fugalei for partnering with us for this project.
 
From the Zumba fundraising, we were able to secure 1 x 10,000 litre water tank.  The Hope Concert late November and the donations from our supporting partners enabled us to reach our target of 10 x 10,000 litre water tanks.  Chan Mow and family donated for 1 tank; May Schwenke of Melbourne Australia donated another while Maurice and Elanit Mitry of Sydney Australia donated 3 tanks.  Fittings and cement for the tanks have all been provided through this project.
 
Three families at Malaemalu Falealili and one from Faleula have had their water tanks installed, with delivery to others still progressing.  The SVSG (Junior) youth groups from these villages have helped with the cement work for the tanks.
 
“Thank you so much to the mother organization, the Samoa Victim Support Group for guiding us in serving our community in need.  As Christmas is upon us, let us keep the spirit of giving alive through services to others.  It is the least we could do for unto us, a child is born, the greatest gift of all.”  SVSG Junior
 
Wishing our families, friends and supporters a Merry Christmas and a most Prosperous New Year in God’s grace.

​As human rights defenders the world over are on the frontlines of defending the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through their work, Samoa Victim Support Group celebrated the 70th anniversary of this extraordinary document with child vendors, making ends meet on the streets of Apia.
 
In partnership with the National Human Rights Institute of Samoa (NHRI), SVSG celebrated with child vendors in an activity titled: ‘Buddying up in the Child Vendor’s World of Work’, focusing on human rights and dignity.

The activity aimed at working on the child vendors self-esteem, that they can rise up from the challenges of the streets, to a much better environment such as the classroom, and for SVSG’s case, the Hot Soup Skill Building Training.  Each child vendor buddyed up with a youth member of the SVSG (Junior) for the whole day at the youth’s workplaces.
 
The rain did not dampen the spirit of the child vendors on this 10th day of December, as they dressed up in their best clothes, ready to experience life in the formal employment sector, away from their work places on the streets.  At the SVSG Office, the children put on their yellow t-shirts with ‘Human Rights’ boldly printed in the front as the team from the NHRI joined SVSG in greeting them.  The eagerness on their faces, the excitement in their voices and the many questions they asked say it all.  These are children, derived of their right to enjoy being children and to be educated as they worked on the street as vendors.
 
The first stop for the buddies was at the Ombudsman’s Office, where Tracey Mikaele and the team explained to the children in simple terms, what human right is.  They toured the office and met the staff of the NHRI.

​“When I reached rock bottom, that was when I started looking within myself for answers to being poor, and I found it – It is all in my hands.”
 
This was the testimony shared by Pina Soma, a nofotane woman of Satapuala who attended SVSG’s Nofotane Program of previous years, learnt a skill or two and is now one of the newly self employed nofotane women.  Mrs. Soma was a participant to the 4th session of Self-Esteem Workshops currently being carried out by Samoa Victim Support Group as part of the Canada Fund for Local Initiative project.
 
According to Mrs. Soma, before joining the Nofotane program she felt hopeless.  With no one in the family who works, her family survived on a day by day basis with the support from others.  What triggered the change in Mrs. Soma was her mentality towards life.  “Here I was looking towards others for help when God gave each and everyone of us a talent, and it is just a matter of using it to survive and to glorify God.” Pina Soma
 
Mrs. Soma was trained on floral arrangement during the previous Nofotane project.  Today, she is earning a living for her family from selling Samoan oil, Samoan cocoa, feathered costumes, pork buns and donuts.  And she has come a long way from being poor, to being a confident woman, able to provide for herself and her family.
 
The positive changes in the nofotane women were achieved through overcoming the challenges within themselves.  Gone were the hopeless and helpless attitudes, and instead we saw women with ‘a can do mentality.’  The nofotane women have been challenged to SHINE.
 
75% of the participants to the 4th session have already opened Savings Account with the local financial institutions.  This is an achievement for the financial literacy component of the workshops as the newly self-employed women have learnt the basics in starting a business, and have progessed on to put aside saving for rainy days.  This is progress towards sustainable income generation and self employment of nofotane women as per the CFLI Project.
 
“A nofotane woman will always be a nofotane; the project is not attempting to change this aspect of our culture, but merely aims to ensure sustainability of being empowered because a strong, proud and successful community, does not tolerate any form of violence against women.” Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President

​The 3rd session of Self-Esteem Workshops for nofotane women as part of the Canada Fund for Local Initiative project highlighted the commitment from the women to learn.
 
Close to 30 nofotane earners from Utualii, Tufulele and Faleasiu gathered at the residence of the SVSG village reperesentative for Faleasiu, to share on their experiences in being newly self-employed women, to learn on how to maintain momentum of their new business ventures through marketing strategies and product development, to encourage working in support networks, and to SHINE through the self-esteem workshop.
 
It has been a rewarding experience, seeing the nofotane women that were once shy, that hardly participated during the first nofotane project, that seldom volunteered to share on their experience as women survivors of violence; being vibrant with confidence, the confidence of an empowered woman.
 
The highlight of the session at Faleasiu was the commitment from the elderly nofotane women to learn.  It was a good example they set for the young women, that you are never be too old to learn. 
 
In fact, one of the star earners awarded during the recent nofotane project was the Taueva Family of Faleasiu.  The elderly couple Taueva and Apiseka Tuloto, in the age group 71-80 years old, recalled living a life of poverty, with nothing to rely on except for the plantation.  Their son’s wife Falelua Taueva also attended the same nofotane livelihood training as her in laws in May 2018. 
 
When SVSG visited the Taueva Family of Faleasiu, the change from being empowered was inevitable. Falelua walked towards SVSG’s vehicle with a confident smile as she excitedly showed the staff her coffee mix hand bags, and smiled further when she showed the family cooking pot used to make pork buns. In addition to these products, she also sells Samoan cocoa. The Taueva family now earns between $300 - $400 on good days.
 
The most popular response from the nofotane women who attended the 3rd Self-Esteem Workshop session was for SVSG to continue with these programs, as it encourages them, it challenges them and it boosts their confidence as newly self-employed nofotane women.  And SVSG will ensure that the women are well supported through the mentors in their villages – the SVSG village representatives.

Because according to the Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President, “a nofotane woman will always be a nofotane; the project is not attempting to change this aspect of our culture, but merely aims to ensure sustainability of being empowered because a strong, proud and successful community, does not tolerate any form of violence against women.”

​Finding inner peace through prayer is central to the rehabilitation programs at the Campus of Hope.  Today, the children of hope did exactly that, as they gathered in prayer to celebrate the International Children’s Day for 2018.

Holding hands around the ‘Peace Garden’ created Miss Leilua Lino, a survivor of incest rape who is now recognized as one of the three finalists for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2018, it was simply heaven on earth.  As the sun rises, the birds chirped and the breeze soothes the skin, the babies, the toddlers, the special needs, the young and the old, rejoiced to the God Almighty in singing and in prayer.  The SVSG President, the staff, the SVSG Juniors, the matrons who looked after the children, the security guards, and the groundsmen joined in the prayer celebration.
 
Who wouldn’t rejoice when according to Matthew 19: 14, Jesus said, “let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belong to such as these.”
 
And this was the message from the children of hope today, that despite all the hardships of this world, Jesus remains their true friend. In prayer, this is the Children of Hope’s way of voicing their support for millions of their peers worldwide who are unprotected, uprooted and unschooled.  It is a solidarity movement by the children residence of the Campus of Hope.
 
President Siliniu Lina Chang appealed to the children to always remember to pray not only for themselves, but also for all the abused and troubled children who are out there in our community, and the world over.
 
“May God continue to bless all our children, the donors and supporters, as well as the workers who have been hand pi cked to carry His work throughout the land.  To God be the glory always,” said Siliniu Lina Chang.

​As one of the 3 finalists for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2018, Leilua Lino’s story of hope has made her part of the change maker movement coordinated by the Kids Right Foundation of Amsterdam. “It is certainly a reflection of the resilience and strength shown by our children, says one of SVSG Board member.”
 
Samoa Victim Support Group nominated Leilua, as the Group saw how she had created a Peace Garden as a way of coping with her anger towards those who have hurt her.  With the announcement of the 3 finalists by the Kids Rights Foundation earlier this week , SVSG is once again humbled by the recognition of the children of hope’s bravery, as represented by Leilua.
 
It speaks of the support network behind the abused children’s journey to recovery both here and abroad.  Amongst such supporters is Justice Vui Clarence Nelson, whose belief, translated into fatherly advises to the Group and visitations to the children at the Campus of Hope, continues to bear positive fruits.
 
As a representative of the Pacific region to the Committee on the Rights of the Child (C.R.), Justice Vui has always been vocal and expressed concerns at the high levels of abuse, domestic violence and incest due to fear of stigma in Samoa.  When Justice Vui heard of Leilua’s progress in the world of children advocacy, he  sent his congratulations. “This is excellent news, viia le Atua.” He even took time out from court to congratulate her in person.
 
The SVSG Patron, Chair & the Board, Executive Committee and the growing SVSG family therefore joins the Kids Right Foundation in congratulating Leilua for making it this far.
 
We look forward to the announcement of the winner for the International Children’s Peace Prize 2018, on the 20th November, knowing that our local girl is already a winner in her recovery journey.
 
According to a dear friend of the children at the Campus, “I would like to remind Leilua that to win, we do not need to come first.  The goal is just dream, and never ever let that dream go or let anybody tell you that you cant achieve that dream.”
 
Leilua’s message to the abused children in is Samoa that “if I can do it, you can too.”

​Consultations to review the Community Sector Plan 2016 – 2021 of the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development included the recognition of two non governmental organisations and two communities in the Community Development Sector Award Presentation.
 
Samoa Victim Support Group received the Special Award for Community Social Protection, in recognition of outstanding performance and commitment through inclusive Community Social Protection Programs targeting vulnerable populations.
 
The award came as the Group near its 14th years of service to the people of Samoa, and we are grateful.
 
According to the SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang, “we are very grateful to the Ministry for appreciating our work.  Glory be to God for trusting us to take His work further.” 
 
As servants, SVSG’s governing body, the executive committee, staff, volunteers, the SVSG village representatives and the SVSG Juniors, have been working hard to serve our community in need.  It is for this reason why SVSG is humbled by the award, as it recognizes SVSG’s community protection role, which to us, is all about God’s work.
 
Thank you so much Afamasaga Faauiga Mulitalo, Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry for engaging the community sector stakeholders in this review.  As a sector partner, the review highlights an inclusive approach for an inclusive community development.
 
As a non-governmental organization, the award highlights a continuous transformation in SVSG and its work due to the indentified need to support our communities, as much as the changes in the communities as we’ve come to know them inclusively, as families as per SVSG’s motto that:
 
We support, we help, we care, WE ARE YOUR FAMILY!
 
SVSG will continue to do what its passionate about; helping and serving the most vulnerable in our community, while fostering a collaborative working relationship with the Ministry.

​What’s good for Upolu is also good for Savaii!
 
The youth sub group of Samoa Victim Support Group, the SVSG Junior, is coordinating a ‘Book Drive’ project in response to a request from the community at Foailuga Savaii, for a library to assist with the children’s reading.
 
The request has driven the youth members of the SVSG Junior to call on the public to help donate any children’s books to support the children of Foailuga.
 
We all know that reading is important to a child’s academic progress and for the community at Foailuga to make this request highlights a community that is taking ownership of its role to nurture and develop our children’s education.
 
The Book Drive is for the whole month of November.  There are 2 drop off outlets for donated books: SVSG’s Main Office next to the Police Station at Apia; and the Campus of Hope at Tuanaimato.
 
This is not the first time in which the SVSG Junior has reached out to support the community through a library project.  A similar project was opened earlier this year at Faleasiu giving children at the Aana district access to reading books and study facilities for the children’s school work.
 
So come one, come all. Help us support the setting up of a library for the children of Foailuga and its neighbouring villages.
 
Together we can make a difference.

​The main component of the sustainability project for the nofotane earners, (self-esteem workshops) for the Canadian Government sponsored project under the Canada Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI), kick started late October with 25 earners from 3 villages at the eastern side of Apia, namely Vaiusu, Nuu Fou and Aele.
 
This was following the identification of the eligible nofotane earners for the program, the sourcing out of mentors from the network of SVSG village representatives to provide mentorship to the earners, the discussions with local and overseas markets for the earners products, the training of trainers for the self-esteem program and the identification of suitable inspirational speakers for each sessions.
 
The trainer of the first session was none other than the SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang, who started with an overview of the project and its goal of sustainable income generation activities, and how the project goal ties up to one of the overaching goals of SVSG’s work, which is to address violence against women.

The whole self-esteem workshop titled SHINE, was marked by living testimonies shared by the nofotane earners and even their husbands on the positive changes and the impact of women empowerment in their families; on forgiviness in areas of nofotane women’s past; on knowing their value and their worth as nofotane women.
 
It has been inspiring that even the inspirational speaker, Mrs. Atelina Tuiletufuga Hunkin-Mamea of Apia, was speechless.  This was because she related very well to the story of hardship, of endurance and of empowerment as shared by the earners, as she herself started from planting 4 coconut seeds which now grows to a floral arrangement, fabric printing and sewing business to support her family.  Mrs Hunkin-Mamae shared that without being honest and having faith in ones ability to soar higher, a new business venture will surely fail.
 
Out of the 25 nofotane earners who attended the workshop, 80% have already opened Savings Account with the local financial institutions.  This is an achievement for the financial literacy component of the workshop as the newly self-employed women have learnt the basics in starting a business, and have progessed on to put aside saving for rainy days.
 
Four of the nofotane earners who have been trained by SVSG to assist with the project implementation in village communities, attended the first session, to learn and to be inspired from the stories as shared by the participants.
 
One of the most important aspects worth noting from the first session was the fact that as more and more nofotane earners shine with empowerment, the less violence being reported from their village communities. 
 
“A nofotane woman will always be a nofotane; the project is not attempting to change this aspect of our culture, but merely aims to ensure sustainability of being empowered because a strong, proud and successful community does not tolerate any form of violence against women.” Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President

​For two years now, the owner of the Pearl MedSpa of Portland Oregon, Ms. Carol Robbins and her staff have been supporting Samoa Victim Support Group from afar.  They have fundraised to help run the Campus of Hope for the abused and abandoned children.  According to Carol, “it was my fear of being attached to the children that made me continued to support from the comfort of Pearl MedSpa.”
 
However, the more she got to know SVSG and its work through Mama Lina, the President of SVSG Siliniu Lina Chang, the stronger was her belief to see the place for herself, and she took that leap of faith.  Closing down Pearl MedSpa branches in Portland Oregon and Scottsdale Arizona, Carol and her 14 team of staff and branch managers arrived in Samoa on Saturday on a hopeful mission, to understand the work of SVSG better, so that they can better provide support.
 
Celebrating 11 years of health and wellness from inside out, the Pearl MedSpa is 2 years short of when SVSG was first set up in 2005.  However, there was a connection from the start.  And that connection was the love for the children.  “We came here to bless the children, see how we can be part of the hopeful mission, however, we were blessed in return.  Those smiles, its simply amazing.”  said Carol
 
Carol is accompanied by Pearl MedSpa’s General Manager Leuso McKenzie, who has travelled back and forth over the years to visit the children, discussed with the SVSG Executive the needs to sustain the shelter operation and organized fundraising events in Portland for the children.
 
The Pearl MedSpa team was welcomed by the SVSG Board during an ava ceremony performed by the SVSG village representatives, upon arrival on Saturday.  This was followed by Sunday with the SVSG family at the Campus of Hope where the Chair of Board, Mrs. Georgina Lui thanked Carol and the Pearl MedSpa for showing SVSG that they care.  “What you have done through this trip is to reaffirm our belief here at SVSG that distance and circumstances don’t matter, it is all about the heart and the will to lend a helping hand.”  said Georgina
 
Included in the trip was a training for the SVSG family on trauma and how to deal with traumatized children by Dr. Bret Fuller, a psychologist that provides therapy for addiction, depression, anxiety, and a whole host of other life issues.  The SVSG Board, Executive, staff, matrons, volunteers and the youth – the SVSG Juniors all took part in the training.
 
Teaching the girls life skills in manicure and pedicure, cooking, baking and how to take care of themselves as young women, all geared towards self-sustainability, that when these girls leave the Campus, they can use these skills to support and provide for themselves and their families.
 
A container of donated goods was devanned at the Campus as part of the trip by the Pearl MedSpa.  Above all else, it is the fellowship that is most valuable, as the Pearl MedSpa team took over the carer roles at the Campus since they have arrived.
 
“To God be the glory always for connecting SVSG with people who are committed to sustaining this work further, for the abused and vulnerable members of our community.”  SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang.

​My name is Melekuini, but my siblings at the Campus call me Mele.  I am 18 years old but I spent the last 8 years of my life under the loving care of the Samoa Victim Support Group.  I have 2 other sisters and 4 brothers, all of whom SVSG took under its care since 2009.  Our parents are serving a life imprisonment sentence for a crime they committed against one of my sisters.
 
Today, I share my story of hope, because I would not have come this far if I have given up on hope a long time ago when I was without parents.
 
In June, I managed to start on my first job as a young adult.  It’s but this positive experience is all new to me.  I am an Office Assistant for a company in town.  I am now a registered member of the formal labour, having my National Provident Number and my own Bank Account.  Yes, here I am with my own Bank Card.  It is such a humbling experience, and most of the times, I have to hit myself hand on the head, to realise that I am not dreaming.
 
On Saturdays after work, I will help out at the Campus, cooked for the children, helped them clean up the compound, wash the dishes or just hand around with the older girls and find out how they are doing.
 
On Sundays, I joined my other Hope Sisters for church, thanking the God Almighty for without Him, where would I be right now.  With God on my side and SVSG as my family, I have conquered the impossible and live each day to share my story of hope.

​One of SVSG’s little angels, Baby Penina Utuva of Samata-i-uta Savaii, has finally been called home.  She had just turned 5 years old last Friday, on 19 October.
 
For 5 years, Penina had defied the odds against her ability to live, since that day in 2013 when the doctors notified her parents that Penina suffered from congenital hydrocephalus (an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain), and has very little chances of reaching 12 months old.

Today, SVSG joins Penina’s parents Utuva and Moega Timo, in celebrating the life of a fighter and a very brave angel.  Despite her illness, there is always an excitement in the office every time Penina visited, as her smile was a reminder of God’s gift of life.  Baby Penina was the youngest of 11 children.  The parents rely on their plantation for a living.  As such, they needed help, and in 2014, the parents sought SVSG’s welfare assistance for Baby Penina which continues until her passing.
 
Her birthdays were usually celebrated at the SVSG main office in Apia where Penina’s SVSG family gathered to praise God for his gift of life to our dear child.  One year turned to two, three, four and now after her 5th birthday, she has been called home.
 
Penina is the last angel with congenital hydrocephalus out of the many others who were under SVSG’s welfare support, and have since passed on.
 
With the support from the Little Angels Foundation of New Zealand since 2016, SVSG has been supporting the daily caring of Baby Penina.  A donation of $1,000 was received from the Foundation to help Penina’s parents with her funeral arrangements. 
 
With the late Director of the Little Angels Foundation, Taa Lo Tam’s recent passing, the Foundation continues to honor his legacy towards the angels in Samoa.  Faafetai lava Sepoima Lo Tam and the Board of the Little Angels Foundation of New Zealand for continuing to support the vulnerable children of Samoa.
 
We thanked Utuva and Moega for sharing the gift of Baby Penina with us.  She has surely been our little angel, and one of a kind.  Rest in love Baby Penina.
 
“To all those who have been part of Baby Penina’s life from day one until her passing, thank you for being there for her always.  May our Heavenly Father bless each and every one of you for the love that you have shown towards the most vulnerable.”  Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President

​It was a night of sharing and networking as the SVSG Juniors, the youth group of Samoa Victim Support Group, reached out to the youth from St Andrew Catholic Parish of Faleula. 
 
The event was in response to a request from a youth member of the Parish for the SVSG Junior to raise awareness with the St Andrew Catholic youth, on the support they can provide towards abused children, women as well as our community in need.  Included in the SVSG Juniors were youths from the Samoa National Orchestra of the Ministry of Education, and the New Methodist Church of Vaitele.
 
Under the leadership of Deacon Faafetai Lalotoa, the St Andrew Youth welcomed the visiting SVSG youth with a traditional ava ceremony, which sets the tone of the open dialogue that followed.
 
First there were powerful testimonies from 2 former residences of the Campus of Hope; one of them was Feagaiga Stowers, Samoa’s weightlifter fairy tale golden girl, the other, an Ambassador of children victims of sexual abuse who has gone public with her story to save another child’s life. 
 
The third and final testimony was from a ‘Man of Change’, a youth popularly known as ‘Mane’ amongst his SVSG family, who shared on the second chance he has been given in life, and as such, vowed to make a difference in someone else’s life, through his story.  It really was a night of sharing, of networking and of empowering youths to stand up for they are the leaders of tomorrow. 
 
To culminate the open sharing, the Sisters of Hope, comprised of the former residences of the Campus of Hope, performed a Thanksgiving Skit as part of their collective testimony, that with God, there is always hope.
 
For the SVSG President, Siliniu Lina Chang, who merely attended to observe and to see if the SVSG Juniors, the succession plan of SVSG’s work, are on the right track with all the preparation to take this work further, she was humbled.  There was obviously a commitment from the individual youths to make a difference; there was an excitement to make a change; and there was a genuine interest to stand together as youths to lend a helping hand.
 
If there was anything that the members of the SVSG Juniors took back with them from this gathering, it was the sincerity of the commitment from the St. Andrew Youth, to work together as ‘youths’ to help our people in need.  Now this is young people taking ownership of their responsibilities to our community in need.