Residents in Samoa's 51 constituencies will benefit from a creative crafts and sewing skills training program which was officially launched on Monday.

The launching of the 50-day training program, which was held at the Tooa Samalasina Hall in Sogi, is a Chinese government-funded short-term training project. It was opened by the Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mataafa.

The goal of the training is to provide technical skills and possible income-generation opportunities to local unemployed women after they undergo basic training, which includes the use and maintenance of the donated sewing machines.

"This training is a prolific response to the Government of Samoa's efforts to achieve its goals under the Pathway for the Development of Samoa, which include improving social development through alleviating poverty, as well as people empowerment," Fiame said.

"This is also addressing the diversified and sustainable economy through community development, as well as the social and economic empowerment of vulnerable groups and communities.

"Hope this training will empower you to step out of your comfort zones and become financially stable and independent by being successful seamstresses, fashion designers, and business owners.

"I wish at this point to convey our sincerest gratitude on behalf of the Government of Samoa to the Government of the People's Republic of China, through its Samoa Embassy and the Hunan International Business Vocational College for continuing to support the development of Samoa and its people."

Funded by the Government of the People's Republic of China, an MOU was also signed by the Prime Minister and the Ambassador of China to Samoa, Chao Xiaoliang.

The training will be facilitated by the Hunan International Business Vocational College. It also aligned with Samoa's Community Sector Plan on the social and economic empowerment of vulnerable women and community outcomes.

In 2017, the Chinese government held its first training course on creative crafts and sewing skills for 80 women in four villages. A year later they dispatched 11 volunteers, including six teachers and five Interpreters to train 100 participants from five local communities, including Faleapuna, Afega, Maagiagi as well as Safotu villages. Amongst them were 20 participants who were trained in advanced sewing technology at the Tooa Salamasina Hall in Sogi using electric sewing machines.

The 80 participants from the four villages were trained in elementary sewing technology utilising pedal sewing machines. This is one of a series of training opportunities that have been held. Lectures were also delivered on cutting and sewing children's and men's attire with the donation of 100 sewing machines to communities with each participant getting an allowance of SAT$10 a day. 

This third pool of training was supposed to be delivered in 2019. However, due to the measles epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic its implementation was delayed. 

The new training launched on Monday will have four expert trainers, two trainers and a project manager from the Hunan International Business Vocational College in China, who oversee the delivery of the training for the 21 participants from Savai'i and 62 from Upolu (including the 51 districts). The training will focus on clothing production and layout as well as cutting and sewing children's, men's and women's clothes and packaging skills. Staff from Samoa's Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD) will also assist the trainers throughout the training program. 

Meanwhile, Fiame encouraged all participants to make good use of the opportunity as Samoa is fortunate to have the Chinese team of sewing experts to conduct the training for the 51 districts for the next seven weeks. 

"To the participants, always remember that opportunities are very hard to come by, and if if you get it, grab it with both hands and make the most of it," said the Prime Minister. "Please note that all our community people who meet the selection criteria are eligible to attend this training, but you are blessed to be given priority, so I encourage you to utilise it wisely to learn new life skills by giving it your full attendance and attention.

"This is a lot of investment on capacity building our people, to ensure they are socially and economically empowered to support their families and communities."