“THE JUDGE HAS LAID DOWN THE CHALLENGE”

Justice Vui Clarence Nelson had challenged the Samoa Victim Support Group and its global family, to take up two more hard problems, as a way forward for SVSG’s work.  The challenge was laid down during Justice Vui’s sharing with the Group on the last day of its global meeting.
 
Sitting there amongst the SVSG global family, not as a Judge, but as an Advisor of the Group, Justice Vui reminisces about the humble beginnings of SVSG 15 years ago; how one woman’s idea to set up an organisation to help victims, sounded crazy to him at the time, but it has taught him a very valuable lesson: “that you dare to dream the impossible, and you can make it happen. And I am full of admiration today for Lina and the Team for the work that you do.”
 
SVSG started because of a young lawyer’s vision, a dream, turned into reality by another woman’s conviction to change the world, “not the whole world, but our part of the world,” according to Justice Vui.
 
With the two hard problems in which the Judge had challenged SVSG to take forward, he admitted that they are impossible dreams.  However, Justice Vui is certain that SVSG can deliver, “It’s an impossible dream, but this is living proof of how an impossible can be made to happen.  It’s your President and this Team.”  It is beliefs such as Justice Vui’s that once again raises the bar on the work of SVSG and its global family.

And as leaders in this fast changing world of ours, the challenge as laid down by the Judge, is yet another test of our faith as a family, and as a the ‘Voice of the Voiceless’.  There are too many victims of crimes and of hardships amongst us which warrants an urgent need to be vigilant and to be proactive in our approaches.
 
SVSG working with offenders of violence and their families through anger management programs, have assisted the Family Court in taking a holistic approach to addressing family violence.  Looking after the victims at the Campus of Hope shelter facilities, while advocating for their cases through to court, is another.  The economic empowerment of women through livelihood training is the latest approach by SVSG to be practical about its ‘Voice of the Voiceless’ role.  And we have seen positive outcomes enabling SVSG and its global family to continue living the impossible dream, alluded to by Justice Vui.
 
“SVSG is always been something close to my heart.  I sit around now and look at all of you, and I feel amazing.”  Justice Vui Clarence Nelson

Reminiscing on the ‘Impossible Dream’ is Justice Vui & SVSG President at the Global Meeting