A mission by a European Union (E.U.) Delegation to Samoa says it is impressed with the work of self-employed Nofotane women who have benefited from E.U. project funding.

Led by the head of the corporation and accompanied by the Program Manager (Finance and Contracts) , the Nofotane space at the S.V.S.G. main office in Apia and the Nofotane Market at Luatuanuu was part of the selected sites visited by the mission.

The empowered Nofotane women of Luatuanuu hosted the EU delegation in style, according to a statement released by the S.V.S.G.

Colorful handicrafts and a variety of local produces were displayed at the marketplace. More than 20 young and old nofotane women, together with their children, gathered around the marketplace in excitement to showcase their products to the E.U. Delegation.

The confidence from the improved self esteem was evidence as the Nofotane women converse with the delegation individually and as a group.

Development such as building a secured market space, furnishings for the market with cupboards and first aid kits attested to the progress made by the empowered women of Luatuanuu, to achieve their full economic potential.

Similar progresses have been enjoyed by the rest of the empowered Nofotane women, whose lives have been impacted by the Project implemented by Samoa Victim Support Group, with funding support from the E.U.

SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang indicated that EU funding was channelled to the SVSG to support a project titled Sustainable Income Generation of Nofotane Women, through the Civil Society Support Program (CSSP) from 2020 – 2022.

"The visibility of the project and its impact on the women’s lives and that of their families and communities forms part of the achievements of the Project," Siliniu said.

Pāsina Christina Tauā, the Programme Manager for the CSSP, expressed her gratitude on behalf of the national authorizing officer and the contracting authority to SVSG for preparing the sites to host the Mission Team during the field visits! 

“The Mission Team is very grateful for the meeting and extremely impressed by the project sites that were visited," said Ms Tauā. 

"The success of this mission would not have been possible without your kind support!”