Five victims of domestic violence and sexual assault are the newest residents of the Campus of Hope and their arrival has been welcomed with a fresh round of public donations. 

The five new residents of the Samoa Victim Support Group’s (S.V.S.G.) shelter for mostly women and children who are victims of violence received boxes full of clothes earlier this week. 

The public donations are part of a charitable drive by Samoa Stationery and Books’ (S.S.A.B.).

The charitable project was launched last year after discussions between S.S.A.B. and S.V.S.G. about resources the group was most in need of. 

The project called upon members of the public to donate clothes, both new and second-hand, for children housed at the campus. 

S.S.A.B. helped facilitate the donations with a charity box placed in front of its Togafu’afu’a Megastore, allowing the public to easily drop off clothes. 

The new residents bring to 75 the number of women and children who are now under the care of the S.V.S.G. 

The group’s President, Siliniu Lina Chang, acknowledged the Chief Executive Officer of S.S.A.B., Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai, for her dedication to charity work and promoting generosity within the public. 

Siliniu told the Samoa Observer that this is the second time this year that S.S.A.B. has dropped off four boxes full of clothes.

She said that as of 16 February, the campus had welcomed five new victims needing shelter: 

“Some of the children have been through domestic or sexual violence,” she said.

“Our work is not easy and we need all the help we can get, we cannot do this by ourselves, we need support from everyone especially the public.

“With new children coming under our care every month, the need for clothes continues to increase.”

Tofilau has previously said that addressing the basic need for clothing among those living on the campus was one of the basic needs that the project sought to fulfill. 

She also said that clothing was part of their mission to ensure that every child deserves to feel happy and looked after. 

The store will deliver clothes to S.V.S.G. fortnightly, depending on the amount of donations received. 

S.S.A.B. is involved in another project seeking to end violence against women and children with a focus on boosting women’s economic empowerment.