A workshop that promotes self-esteem was recently held at Falealupo, Savai’i targeting Nofotane women who have gone on to start small businesses.

The workshop was run by the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) and is funded by the Canada Fund for Local Initiative Project. 

It is for Nofotane women who have previously trained on livelihood skills under the United Nation Women Fund for Gender Equality Project, and have progressed to become earners and or breadwinners for their families. 

SVSG president, Siliniu Lina Chang, told the Samoa Observer that the program is not changing any aspect of the Samoan culture.

“The project is not attempting to change this aspect of our culture, but merely aims to ensure sustainability of being empowered.”

“It is because a strong, proud and successful community does not tolerate any form of violence against women,” she said.

The workshop attended Nofotane women sellers from Tufutafoe, Fagasa, Falelima and Falealupo – which led to each women getting a bank account – and confirms their understanding of the basics in managing finances. 

The workshop also strives to address unsustainable income generation practices of Nofotane women – due to the lack of resource to support their businesses, and an absence of confidence to maintain the momentum for self-employment.  

The Nofotane women sellers also gave personal testimonies on the benefits of being economically empowered through livelihood skills training for unemployed women in villages, encouraging them to build relationships with others and open savings accounts for rainy days.