Untitled (aumaga) men of Vaiafai Iva in Savai’i, who are part of a livelihood program run by the Samoa Victim Support Group, are starting to reap the financial and social rewards.

The not-for-profit organisation, said in a statement released on Thursday, that the livelihood program that the aumaga are part of is supported by Government grants which are channelled through the organisation to fund activities to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Targeting the men and young boys group’s, the economic empowerment of untitled men and unemployed youths is a preventative approach to violence through poverty alleviation, according to the S.V.S.G.

In August this year, the President of the S.V.S.G. Siliniu Lina Chang presented tools and equipment valued at $4,999 to the untitled men of Vaiafai, to enable them to carry out clean up work around their village as well as the neighbouring villages for a small fee.

Three months later, when the S.V.S.G. visited Vaiafai last week the untitled men were hard at work cleaning and earning themselves income from their livelihood activities. 

According to the leader of the Vaiafai aumaga, the untitled men were excited with the project and looked forward to doing clean up work, knowing that they will be paid.

But more importantly, the S.V.S.G. said the untitled men now have a bank account to draw from, when they serve during the village council meetings. The income reduces the financial distress that they would have experienced, while also enabling them to carry out their tautua or service to the village leaders.

Through the Government’s funding assistance, the Vaiafai aumaga submitted a proposal to the S.V.S.G. for an income generating cleaning project, which was approved.  The approval of the project led to the provision of six weed eaters, two chainsaws, a blower, 20 machetes, rakes and a water cooler for a total project value of $4,997.

Siliniu commended the untitled men of Vaiafai Iva for the success of the project in such a short time since the tools and equipment were handed over.  

“Malo le tautua tuavae mo nai o tatou aiga ma afioaga. Thank you for your humble service to our families and communities," she said.