A woman from Saipipi in Savaii will use seed money from a grant to entice other women in her village to learn skills that would aid them in making a living for their families.

Niuula Tusipa, 34, is one of the six recipients blessed with financial aid through the Fatu Toa Seed-Funding program by the Samoa Victim Support Group and UNESCAP Project. 

The six received seed funds of US$500 each. 

The individuals who received the awards were selected from a group of 100 nofotane women entrepreneurs who took part in the Business Development Training program in February 2024. Out of this group, 40 of them applied for the Fatu Toa Award. 

Ms. Tusipa has been a participant since 2021. She expressed her eagerness to share her newfound knowledge with other women in her community. 

“I’m eager to organise a workshop to teach my fellow Relief Society members how to craft items that can provide financial support. The insights I’ve gained from this program are invaluable, and I’m keen to share them, potentially aiding other women who may be hesitant to seek help,” she remarked.

Ms. Tusipa makes small handicrafts and has been successful with her business. 

In total, there were five women and one man who received the grant. Two were from Savaii, while four from Upolu. The recipients recently completed the Impact Evaluation Workshop, sharing their experiences and the impact of the business development program on their small initiatives.

One of the awardees is a nofotane woman with a disability La'aloi Mua'au from Sapa'alii Savaii. She highlighted the vitality of the grant and how this will assist her business as a stall owner at the Salelologa market.

Mika Finau, a widower of a registered nofotane woman, highlighted how the seed funding helped kickstart his business with his children, enabling him to purchase necessary tools and equipment.

"The financial assistance provided through the Fatu Toa Seed Funding program has allowed me to acquire essential tools and equipment, including a buffering machine and polisher, for my creative projects," he said. 

"These tools have significantly improved the efficiency and safety of my crafting process, making it more streamlined and secure." 

Fa’alotoina Siitia, a Star Fatu Toa Awardee, mentioned the challenges of limited customer traffic in her village and plans to scout for better locations. 

Siliniu Lina Chang, President of SVSG, emphasized the importance of evaluations to ensure the project's effectiveness and future growth.

The SVSG/ESCAP Nofotane Business Development Training aims to empower 100 nofotane woman entrepreneurs by providing them with essential skills for sustainability. Supported by ESCAP's CWE program funded by Global Affairs Canada, the project aims to enhance economic empowerment for rural and remote indigenous women entrepreneurs in Samoa.

The participants will be taking part in a Mentorship and Coaching Program where they will be paired with women mentors who are respected and admired by nofotane entrepreneurs. 

Each participant has selected a wife of a church minister or faletua from their church as their mentor, highlighting the high regard and influence of faletuas in the community.