Who We Are

The SVSG Juniors are a sub-group of the main SVSG.  It is basically SVSG's Succession Plan. ​

SVSG Juniors provide youth the support, as well as be a part of a group that believes with the right attitude, passion, faith and determination, can develop and be able to help those in need in our community.

SVSG Juniors bring together youth from various communities and organizations the opportunity to connect with each other while simultaneously volunteering.  SVSG Juniors consist of passionate and enthusiastic young individuals who hold full-time jobs and volunteer their free time to help others and be a part of this group.

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svsgjuniorsinsamoa@gmail.com

You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing
it to master you. ~Sri Ram

How we came about and what direction we are going towards…

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SVSG Juniors came about when the Samoa Victim Support Group as well as SVSG Juniors’ original members identified a need to have a team of young mentors or young people that other young people would be more comfortable to relate to, confide in and interact with. The idea of SVSG Juniors was born on the basis that like SVSG Juniors members – there are many other young individuals out there who want to step up, take part in helping our community, to make a difference in the lives of other young people, to have the opportunity to be the voice of other young people in organizations such as SVSG and to probably be able to carry on the great work done by SVSG later on.

What We Do…
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• Facilitate community-based projects targeting the youth in the community
• Coordinate fundraisers to help support the organization
• Plan ideas and get together with affected youth in SVSG’s care living in the SVSG shelter, which include activities such as swimming, picnics, sports at the park, arts & crafts, etc.
• Assist and represent SVSG activities and events
• Counsel affected youth who come in for assistance, as youth feel more comfortable expressing themselves with someone their own as

Why Target the Youth?
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Our intent is to connect with the youth, as they are the victims of most crimes.

With the youth with whom we work and do projects, we request that they act as youth ambassadors against violence and indecent acts to their respective schools, their peers, and the other youth in their communities, while linking them to the SVSG’s already established adult representatives in their respective villages.

How you can be a part of this…

SVSG Juniors is always on the lookout for young passionate individuals who would like to help out, take part in our projects or just want to be part of something in this community. If this group sounds like a group you would be interested in, then feel free to pick up a Volunteer Registration form from our main office behind the Police Central Station.

SVSG JUNIORS
VISION:
Raising up Young Leaders and Uniting Samoa’s Youth to work alongside each other in contributing to making a difference in our community and nation

MISSION:
 To empower youth to know their worth, strength and purpose
        To inspire youth to rise up, lead, and contribute to our society
        To encourage youth to connect to a CAUSE greater than themselves

 GOALS:
         To bring together youth from various communities and organisations to work alongside each other and help each other out
         To implement projects that meet the needs of our youth as well as our community in general
         To educate our youth in what is going on in society and how they as young leaders can contribute to making a difference

​EMPOWERING THE YOUTH OF SAMOA 

SVSG JUNIORS are proud to report that our Empowering Youth for Tomorrow Conference 2013 was a great success!!! Close to 100 youth leaders from 18 different youth groups from around Apia gathered at the SDA Lalovaea Hall last weekend, where they were inspired to rise up and Make a Difference in their society. Each group participated in workshops and activities empowering them to know their worth, purpose and strength, defining leadership and what leadership means to them, connecting to a cause greater than themselves and then going out and be the voice for other young people and reach out to those who may be struggling. 
They were all presented with gift packs and a tshirt to thank them for their contribution within their youth groups and communities. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our local buisnesses and family abroad who gave generously towards the CAUSE.
Thank you for choosing to invest in our future leaders of tomorrow! Svsg Sydney, Svsg Samoa, Medical Specialist Clinic, Laura Le Rose, Janets Samoa, Business Systems Ltd, Pacific Water Orchy, Digicel Australia, Pacific Delights, Immanuel Youth, SDA Youth Vailele, Samoa Stationery Books, and anonymous donors!! We could not have done this without you! Fa'afetai, fa'afetai lava! Chris Sablan Patty Perez CeCe Theodor Lyn Robertson 

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​Many were starting to wonder, “What happened to the SVSG Juniors?”  Well wonder no more, we would like to introduce to you our new executive team for the SVSG Juniors:
 
President: Carmenita Solaese / Vice: Franziska Sione
Secretary: Petronilla Molio'o
Treasurer: Carmenita Solaese
Supporting Members: Mane Sua, Daniel Silva
 
The former SVSG Junior President Mr. Nathan Ryan together with their executive members have progressed onto the main SVSG, while the young ones continue with the youth group.  Mr. Ryan is mentoring these young volunteers so that they will not lose sight of why they have put up their hands to volunteer.
 
At the moment there are thirty members of the SVSG Juniors and it will continue to grow as long as you want to start putting up your hand to engage in your community in a meaningful way. Contact any of these members of the executive or the office to join the juniors and you are set to go. We welcome you all as you will most likely be the future for the SVSG as young people are fresh and they come with new ideas to improve. Always remember that this group was not established by experienced older people in the community. It was established by a group of young people fresh out of law school, who did not know anything at the time but only saw pain that they did not think existed in Samoa because of their privilege upbringing. So it was an idea born from young people.
 
An upcoming project which SVSG thinks is suitable to be led by the SVSG Juniors is the new classroom proposed to be built by students from a school in the Gold Coast who have been fundraising for four years for this project. The students will be travelling to Samoa later this year with a team of builders to build their new classroom, an addition to the school of hope on the campus of hope. Who better to meet these students and work with them then our youths in Samoa, the SVSG Juniors.  So it is an exciting time for the SVSG Juniors and we hope that you will put up your hand to join this new and exciting group. 

THE TEAM

Here is a look at why some of the youths have joined the SVSG Juniors

Carmenita Solaese -
​President

My name is Carmenita Solaese-Lepou,26 years of age, a mother to a beautiful daughter and wife. I hold a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Chongqing University of Post and Telecommunication and currently working at the Central Bank of Samoa as an analyst for the Financial System Development Department. At the same studying a 3 years online course to become a  Certified Digital Finance Practitioner. 
Despite having a busy schedule as a mother and at work I still manage to pull some time off as a volunteer for SVSG and especially SVSG Juniors. 
I love volunteering as this is another great platform for me to meditate on what God has blessed me with and also to be able to help the youth of Samoa become great ambassadors for our country, family and especially themselves.
I joined not because someone told me to join, but I wanted to volunteer for a purpose that can help better the lives of others. My journey as a SVSG Juniors Volunteer is a challenging path as I get to encounter so many unexpected real life events that are happening around Samoa through: Youth Unemployment, Conducting Welfare Projects by providing water tanks for families who don’t have any access to clean water, providing clothes and food for families, encounter with one of the most severe patient with a tumor that can no longer be treated that has taken almost half of his face etc.
From all the challenges I have faced as a volunteer, my vision is to “Stop addressing youth challenges as challenges but to look at it as OPPORTUNITIES as this is where God opens many doors for YOUTHS”.
My goals as President:

• Empower and Inspire the Youth to consider volunteering as another mission during their youthful age
• Create a Network with Overseas institutions so that opportunities are poured out to the youth of Samoa
• SVSG Juniors Office  (To be operated by youths and people that have the passion for helping and mentoring Youths)
• Create Projects to Improve the livelihoods of families so they are able to learn and gain skills to earn money

It’s a long way to go but I believe that SVSG Juniors will get there!

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Franziska Sione​- Vice

I am Franziska Finafinau Sione from the village of Magiagi. I am a socialise person. I love cooking, sporting, helping people especially music. Music has had a huge impact on my life. I am from a family of musicians. So I grew up with music already a part of my life. God gave me this talent for a very important reason. I started building my music career when Joseph Kuresa formed and directed our family's brass band. We stopped playing when Joseph Kuresa passed away. My dad took me to study piano at the national Orchestra of Samoa under the leadership of the late Beta Solomona. It took me 3 months to school there then I got kicked out because of my outstanding fees.

Then I started my lone journey. I booked appointments with musicians from overseas during their visit to Samoa. Most of my music life was self-taught. Google and Youtube played a big role in the development of my music life. With this little knowledge I had, I started doing music tutorials for beginners. I taught music when I was in year 12. Teaching to me was my biggest learning at this stage. Other than music I took Law at USP but I was still attracted to music. Regardless of having no music qualifications, I was accepted to work as a Woodwind Tutor for the National Orchestra under the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.

A volunteer from USA came to work at the Orchestra and was so surprised at my music knowledge and skills knowing I have never studied music at a proper school. So she sponsored my online music course offered by the University of Edinburgh. When completed, I was promoted to the Assistant Director. Now I am able to provide and help develop my family.

I joined the SVSG Junior because I saw a lot of myself in the young generations and their love for music. Music to us is like a medicine that heals the wound. It gives us a piece of mind when faced with problems. I believe music is a life changing experience just as how it changed my life. Through music, I can help teach our youths so that they will something to strive for to achieve.

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PETRONILLA MOLIOO
​- SECRETARY

I wanted to join SVSG Juniors because I want to be a part of a positive movement to Empower youth, I believe the work of Samoa Victim Support Group should be continued and that we the youth should be well equip in all the necessary trainings and experiences to provide help and support to those in need and as a youth we tend to go through so many challenges in life that we seem to keep silent from our parents/ guardians and family whether its mental health cases, abuse and being left out; It is also a great initiative to be able to have a support group of youths that can be able to create a space where there is no judgement but just genuine support towards each other’s journey and experiences. I too have been subjected to Domestic Violence in the past, it was that time that I seek help from SVSG and I remember how they created a safe space for myself during my whole process. They have been one of the biggest part of my journey in becoming the person I am today and if there is any way I can help someone who went through the experiences I had in the past then at least I can do so in SVSG Junior. ​

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Mane Sua

Talofa lava, my name is Mane Su’a joining SVSG Juniors is a golden opportunity to empower, inspire and encourage youths to become leaders.  As a supporting member of our group im looking forward to help as much as I can in order to fulfill our mission and vision for the betterment of our future generation and the most important thing is to avoid domestic violence within families, communities and our society.   How can we involve men and boys in gender equality and the elimination of gender-based violence worldwide? This was the leading question of the study visit “Men of Change” which was hosted by Emancipator Amsterdam Netherlands and which turned out to be the peak of an inspiring and highly instructive internship. As part of the Breaking the Cycle program, we managed to cooperate with our partner organizations from India, Sri Lanka, Spain and Madagascar to the Netherlands to exchange our knowledge, expertise and approaches. It was incredibly inspiring to meet so many individuals and organizations fighting for gender equality in different social contexts. It made me realize, once again, the importance of cultural exchange in our joint strive for gender equality and the elimination of gender-based violence. 

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