Justice Vui lays down the challenge

06 September 2017, 12:00AM

Justice Vui Clarence Nelson has challenged the Samoa Victim Support Group and its global family to take up two more hard problems, as a way forward for S.V.S.G.’s work.  

The challenge was laid down during Justice Vui’s time with the S.V.S.G. on the last day of its global meeting.

Sitting there, among the S.V.S.G. global family, not as a judge, but as an advisor of the Group, Justice Vui reminisced about the humble beginnings of S.V.S.G., 15 years ago.

How one woman’s idea to set up an organisation to help victims sounded crazy to him at the time, but has since 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,” he said.

S.V.S.G. 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 S.V.S.G. to take forward, he admitted that they too are impossible dreams.  

However, Justice Vui is certain that S.V.S.G. 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 S.V.S.G. 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 the ‘Voice of the Voiceless’.  

There are too many victims of crime and hardships among us, warranting the urgent need to be vigilant and proactive in our approaches.

S.V.S.G. is working with offenders of violence and their families through anger management programmes, and have assisted the Family Court in taking a holistic approach to addressing family violence.  

They also look after the victims at the Campus of Hope shelter facilities, while advocating for their cases through to court.  

The economic empowerment of women through livelihood training is the latest approach by S.V.S.G. to activate its ‘Voice of the Voiceless’ role, creating positive outcomes and enabling S.V.S.G. and its global family to continue living the impossible dream, alluded to by Justice Vui.

 “S.V.S.G. has always been something close to my heart.  I sit around now and look at all of you, and I feel amazing,” he said. 

06 September 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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