The Campus of Hope

​The Campus of Hope at Tuanaimato was the venue for the Humanitarian Workers program when the Samoa Red Cross hosted the Regional Red Cross Rapid Gender Analysis, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Workshop.
 
The visit enabled the participants to the Regional Workshop to gain real life experience on the humanitarian work by Samoa Victim Support Group when meeting the children of hope.
 
They were touched by their engagement with the children, and were amazed by the facilities, especially the hearts of the many people that has made the Campus a reality.  And the Director of the Samoa Family Health Association, Mrs. Lia’i Siitia was vocal on organisations working collaboratively for our people, because despite the different services we provide, the final beneficiaries are our people.
 
For one of the participants, Tusi from Tuvalu, “It is very different to just read about the statistics and issues, but having to actually see the children of hope is an eye opener to the extremity of the consequences of the sexual violation and Sexual and Gender Based Violence.”  And in comparing the humanitarian work of the Red Cross to the support services of SVSG, the Secretary General of the Samoa Red Cross Namulauulu Tautala Mauala said that “I feel guilty because I now realise that the Red Cross should do much more for the victims.”  The same sentiment was shared by Mata of the Cook Islands Red Cross who noted that “There are lots of funding opportunities available to the Red Cross and the countries should make full use of these for support work.”
 
To mark the beginning of a collaborative working relationship between SVSG and the Red Cross, a donation of $500 was presented by the Federation towards the security for the children at the Campus.  Because as Cameron of the Solomon Islands commented “Where there are children, there is a village”.
 
SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang congratulated the Secretary General Namulauulu Tautala and the Samoa Red Cross for hosting a successful regional forum, and welcomed the opportunity to partner with Samoa Red Cross in supporting our people in need.
 
“Last but not the least, SVSG applauds with pride having one of the daughters of Samoa, Ms. Lemau Afamasaga leading the delegation from the Red Cross International.  It is such an inspiration for the support work that we do for our own people in Samoa.”  Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President