The New Plymouth community in New Zealand has made a donation to survivors of violence who have sought refuge at the Samoa Victim Support Group’s Campus of Hope.

The campus at Tuanaimato is home to over 70 women and children who are victims of different forms of abuse.

It has been four months now since Jayne Richardson and Evelien Wallace of New Plymouth started corresponding with the SVSG to organise for a donation to be made for the children at the refuge.

But what started out as a donation of clothing and stationery by a group of friends turned into a community project as the supporting families in New Plymouth gathered various goods they could spare from nappies to shower curtains, sporting goods, toys, shoes and many more for the children in Samoa.

According to Ms. Richardson, they have been overwhelmed by the support and generosity of friends, families and colleagues which enabled them to pack and transport them from New Plymouth to Auckland for shipment to Samoa.

A total of 22 boxes of assorted donations arrived in Samoa on 18 December 2020 before Christmas. The donations have now been cleared and released to the campus, much to the excitement of the children who are the beneficiaries of this love and kindness, and the relief of the donating families in New Zealand.

Ms. Wallace added that she hopes that what they managed to get for the children will be helpful.

The SVSG said the donation will cater for the increased number of abused children who have been admitted to the campus, as families continue to feel the social and economic impact of COVID-19 pandemic through the loss of employment.

The S.V.S.G. President, Siliniu Lina Chang, acknowledged Ms. Richardson, Ms. Wallace and the supporting community in New Plymouth, for sharing the Christmas spirit with the children through their donation.

“A special acknowledgement to the good will of the Bark Products Taranaki, that organizes the shipping and paper work for this consignment,” she added. “We wish you and your families love and prosperity as we journey on to 2021 in God’s grace.”