The national child protection agency, the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.), has called on mothers in Samoa to ask for help and not to take the lives of their newborn babies as Samoa reels from a second case of fatal child abandonment. 
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The President of the S.V.S.G., Siliniu Lina Chang, spoke out in response to two cases of babies who were found dead in the past month, one at sea and another on Saturday, adjacent to a trash bin at the Mulifanua wharf.

“No child whether young, old or new born deserves to die at the hands of the parents due to negligence, pride or poverty.  All children are a gift from God,” she said.

“The children fulfil God’s purpose for the growth of His Kingdom here on earth and they have the right to life.

“Sadly, the incidences of abandoned babies in Samoa of late, remind us that all is not well in our beautiful slice of paradise.”

Siliniu said that questions about whom "to blame and what causes these catastrophes are not ours to ask.”

“As a child protection agency, S.V.S.G. is more concerned with how can we save another child from being abandoned or how else we can help save mothers in such situations?," she said. 

“We are appealing to all our mothers in these situations to please, know that help is just a phone call away. 

“Having the courage to reach out for help will not only save yourself, but most importantly, that gift of a child.”

She also added that earlier this year, they were greeted one morning by a newborn left outside their office door. 

“We never asked who [or] what but we knew that whatever the situation may be, a child has been saved. He is now a healthy child at the House of Blessings nursery at the Campus of Hope.

“Mothers, before you make a decision to take a life by your own hands, know that you are not alone.   At S.V.S.G., we are your family, and we are just a phone call away.

“All children are a gift from God and as such, they have the right to life like you and I.”

The S.S.V.G. operates a 24-hour free help line number: 800-7874.

News from: Samoa Observer

​No child whether young, old or new born deserves to die at the hands of the parents due to negligence, pride or poverty.  All children are a gift from God.  They fulfill God’s purpose for the growth of His Kingdom here on earth. They have the right to life.
 
Sadly, the incidences of abandoned babies in Samoa of late, remind us that all is not well in our beautiful slice of paradise.  Who to blame and what causes these catastrophies are not ours to ask.
 
As a child protection agency, SVSG is more concerned with how can we save another child from being abandoned?; how else we can help the mothers in such situations?
 
Samoa Victim Support Group is appealing to all our mothers in these situations to please, know that help is just a phone call away.  The 24 hour free help line number is 800-7874 and it is confidential.  Having the courage to reach out for help will not only save yourself, but most importantly, that gift of a child.
 
Earlier this year, we were greeted one morning by a bundle of joy being left outside our office door.  We never asked who of what. We knew that whatever the situation may be, a child has been saved.  He is now a healthy child at the House of Blessings nursery at the Campus of Hope.
 
The SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang is therefore calling on our mothers that “before you made a decision to take a life into your own hands, know that you are not alone.  At SVSG, we are your family, and we are just a phone call away.”
 
All children are a gift from God and as such, they have the right to life like you and I.

​"On behalf of us as parents, we ask for your forgiveness as our children, as God's gift to our families, to our homes. For we have not lived up to God's purpose in our lives, to love and to care for you. And because you are here, we are all in this together." Fijian Prayer Warrior.
 
This was the appeal from a prayer warrior representing the Deborah Ministries International when they visited the children at the Campus of Hope.
 
The appeal highlighted an important shift away from the silent acceptance of gender based violence; which has been apparent in Samoa and the Pacific region in the past; towards a more responsible community taking ownership of its actions towards the children.
 
The Deborah Ministries visited the children of Hope as prayer warriors, yet, the children's ministering left them in awe of God's love as seen from the smiles on the children’s faces.  It was as if the roles were reversed and the children were encouraging the adults to be strong, and in turn, the adults asked for the children’s forgiveness.
 
The visiting Deborah Ministriescomprised of prayer warriors from New Zealand, Fiji and American Samoa. Accompanying the Debra Ministry was one of SVSG's Church Response Team Leader Pastor Sale Uelese of the Assembly of God Satapuala who reminded the children that "the love of God through Jesus Christ is above all." As such, He has a better plan for the children of hope, despite the ugliness of their past.
 
"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11