The number of infants at the Samoa Victim Support Group's (S.V.S.G.) Campus of Hope continues to increase with the latest addition being twins who were given birth by a a 14-year-old victim of sexual abuse. 

The boys were born on International Women's Day in March of this year and the mother has returned to the Campus of Hope to complete her studies.

S.V.S.G took to social media to express their gratitude towards public assistance which enabled S.V.S.G to raise the twins as well as all babies within the Campus were in good health.

"Our handsome twin boys, born on International Women's Day in March 2023, to a 14-year-old victim of sexual abuse, are now three months old, healthy and happy," S.V.S.G's post reads.

"Thanks to your financial, in kind and volunteer support, the twins are well looked after at the House of Blessings, while the mother is back in school at the School of Hope.

"To help us operate the Campus of Hope for the abused and vulnerable children, please donate to the SVSG Online Fundraising via the link: http://Givealittle.co.nz/.../svsg-saving-lives... or see the Poster for other ways to donate."

Meanwhile, S.V.S.G president, Siliniu Lina Chang said the number of children and babies born inside the campus continues to increase and it's concerning.

"Not only the abused and abandoned children are increasing in the Campus but also babies are increasing," she said. "And these are babies born from young girls being abused or are involved in domestic violence."

"That's why we've been opting to push for this online fundraiser, because we need the money to support them as well as pay for more staff because we obviously need more staff now."

Siliniu stressed that with the increase in the number of children and babies in the Campus, the demand for staff has also increased.

There were 72 abused and abandoned children (49 girls and 23 boys, ages 5 months to 19 years old) sheltered at the Campus during May – June 2022; inclusive of four babies (5 – 24 months).

For May – June 2023, there were 84 children residents at the Campus of Hope, inclusive of eight babies (new born to 24 months).

Among the lives being saved through the work of the S.V.S.G. include: sheltering close to 6,000 victims of gender-based violence, and supporting them seek justice; providing rehabilitative counselling for close to 3,000 offenders of family violence referred from the Family Court as a holistic approach to addressing family violence; receiving and responding to close to 20,000 calls through its 24-hour free helpline from members of our community requiring assistance since 2015; and successfully lobbying for legislation changes in Samoa. The most notable ones included a submission to criminalise domestic violence and life imprisonment for offenders of sexual abuse of children under 13 years of age. 

It has been years of struggles and blessings for S.V.S.G coupled with a journey of hardship and achievements, according to Siliniu. She described their journey as one of sacrifice, criticism, and sometimes loneliness while providing a support service very much needed by the vulnerable members of the community. 

Those who will be donating to S.V.S.G. online fundraising will be announced with their donation on 29 September 2023 as an acknowledgement of their alofa (love). 

The S.V.S.G. has launched an online fundraising drive to keep its office doors open to serve the vulnerable members of our community; to provide shelter, rehabilitation, education and empowerment programs for abused women and children; to be the voice for the voiceless; to advocate for relevant legislative changes that protect the rights of vulnerable people; and to raise community awareness on ending violence for a safer Samoa.

Over the last 18 years, the demand for the support services of the S.V.S.G. continues to grow and the group has earned the community and the development partners' trust as a child-safe organisation, and in the Pacific region as a women-led human rights activism organisation.

S.V.S.G's Campus of Hope, which is located at Tuanaimato in Apia, has been home to many of the country's victims of abuse and violence. But the facility has in recent months noticed an increase in the number of abused and abandoned children being brought in.