Caritas Samoa and the Samoa Red Cross Society have joined forces with other partners to increase awareness among members of the community about disaster preparedness.

They are doing this through community trainings in Upolu and Savai’i to help participants prepare themselves and their communities in times of natural disasters.

Caritas Samoa Project Manager, Fuatino Muliagatele-Ah Wai, said the programme is designed to help people save lives.

 “We are working through churches,” she said.

“The response has been very good, the participation from the community has been increasing each day.” 

The training is extremely beneficial for the youth.

“This is another good platform to encourage the Youth to get into voluntary services.” 

Caritas has been working with its partners – including the relevant government ministries - to spread their message about the need to be prepared.

The programme is carried out in different phases:

•  Phase 1: Consultation and to bring all volunteers on board 

•  Phase 2: Training of Volunteers. This is where Caritas works with the Ministry of Police, F.E.S.A., Health, Red Cross and D.M.O 

•  Phase 3: Work out in the villages on their Village Plans

Apart from its work on emergency response, Fuatino said Caritas Samoa also promote capacity building initiatives for women to help them look after their families.

Caritas Samoa was founded in February 2008 and became a full-fledged member of Caritas Internationalis in 2011. 

Caritas Samoa works in close partnership with Caritas agencies, international relief organisations, as well as the Samoan government’s National Disaster Management Office to provide assistance and training where needed.