Stage set for girls conference

30 October 2016, 12:00AM

Samoa’s 5th annual Girls Leading Our World (G.L.O.W.) conference is slated to be the biggest and best yet. 

G.L.O.W. has more than doubled in size from last year, with 72 lucky Year 7 and Year 8 girls from Savaii, Upolu and Manono convening at Papauta College for the five day conference, November 8- 12. 

At G.L.O.W., girls will hear from speakers on issues related to career development, health, nutrition, and domestic violence awareness. The girls will be challenged to think critically about the material, and about their own development as leaders.

The Career Development Day will kick off with a field trip to the Samoa Observer and a talk from Mata’afa Keni Lesa. The girls will hear from Ronna Hadfield (USP, TV1), Cherelle Jackson and Danita Strickland (Conservation International), and Isabel Tuatagaloa (South Pacific Business Development) before rounding out the day with an elei workshop with Molly Homasi (Samoa National Youth Council). 

The Healthy Bodies & Healthy Minds Day includes a field trip to Moanalisa Hotel for a nutrition talk by Jesse Lee (Palusami Restaurant) and talks by Gabrielle Apelu and Lepa Fa’aiuaso (National Rugby League), Tuitina Nu’uvali (Samoa Special Olympics), and Dr. Salote Va’ai. 

The Domestic Violence Awareness Day features lectures from Tracey Mikaele (Human Rights Institute), Jordanna Mareko and Nora Warren (M.W.C.S.D.), and Cherelle Fruean (U.N. Women). The girls will take a self-defense class from Maria Sua (Judo instructor) before closing the day with a star-weaving workshop with Soul Weavers for A Million Stars to End Violence.

For the first time in G.L.O.W. Samoa history, G.L.O.W. will incorporate training on how to form and run local GLOW clubs. 24 Samoan female community leaders who have been selected to accompany the girls to the conference will attend the training. 

G.L.O.W. clubs allow girls to continue to build their leadership skills after they return to their communities and expand G.L.O.W.’s reach to many more young leaders.

G.L.O.W. is developed and facilitated by Peace Corps Volunteers in collaboration with Peace Corps staff and G.L.O.W. partners at U.N. Women and U.S.P. 

G.L.O.W. would not be possible without funding and donations from Let Girls Learn, U.N. Women, U.N.D.P., Siva Afi, and Samoa Shipping Corporation. 

For more information on G.L.O.W. Samoa, check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GLOWSamoa, or email us: [email protected].

30 October 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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