Women Against Violence Celebrated

​Every woman who is brave enough to report violence is a Hero.  Every woman who instigated violence and is doing something about it is therefore a Champion, because at Samoa Victim Support Group, every family we reunite is a Victory.
 
The SVSG Women’s Advocacy Program Against Violence 2016 – Tina Faufautua – has been marked by a substantial reduction of 34 women or 58% referrals from the Family Court for counseling support, compared to 81 recorded for 2015.  With 16 women referred from 2015 who continued onto 2016, this takes the total number of women in the Advocacy Program for 2016 to 50.
 
Coming from different backgrounds, different circumstances surrounding their offending but with the same status, as mothers, SVSG’s work appealed to this important role each offender played in her family.
 
Anger and stress management, family relationships, goal setting and spiritual guidance form part of the counseling rehabilitation program.  From 4 weeks to 3 months depending on the duration of the program as referred from the Courts, these mothers remain committed to change not only for themselves, but most importantly, for their families.  And SVSG is mindful of the difficulty in achieving behavioral change.
 
This week, our proud mothers, the Champions of domestic violence in the homes, came together to celebrate together with SVSG and the facilitators of the program, their achievements. There has been noted improvement in relations with their husbands, children, parents, siblings and their neighbors; they have learned self-control when in conflicting situations; most importantly, they have been agents of change, advocating for violence free families in their women’s committee, village and church communities.
 
SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang acknowledged the commitment from the volunteer facilitators, Mrs. Tutaia Mariner and Mrs. Milo Cordtz, who have been with the Tina Faufautua Program throughout the year.  “Thank you also to the volunteer mothers from various churches who have carried this work together with us.  As a community, we have nurtured the goodness in these mothers, now becoming Champions of ending violence in the homes.”  Wishing all our families a joyous and safer festive season.