It was alien knowledge for some parents who were told what constitutes violence against children as the Samoa Victim Support Group continued in its Community Child Protection Programme.

Two high schools and three villages participated in this programme for awareness to combat violence against children in Samoa.

In partnership with UNICEF Pacific, the program kicked off in Asaga in Savaii.

This was the first time SVSG has conducted a specific workshop in the village of Asaga, responding to a special request from the community.

The request was a recognition by the village leaders of the urgent need for a preventive and early intervention programme.

SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang aptly mentioned that the enthusiasm spoke volumes.

“This request marks the importance of the workshop we do in the community; people are starting to realise how effective these programs are in the villages, and especially in their homes,” she said.

The workshop was divided into two parts, catering to the two different groups targeted. The Positive Parenting Program focused on arranging and delivering effective parenting strategies for parents. While some of the parents were initially taken aback by the information presented, a few of them engaged in dialogue.

“For Asaga parents, this information was very new, and it goes against everything they were raised and believed in. However, the parents patiently and eagerly listened in and diligently took notes, absorbing the new information that was presented,” Siliniu said.

The second part of the programme taught Life Skills Development for Adolescents, focused on equipping adolescents with essential life skills that enable them to handle the mental and social challenges they may face in life.

The adolescents from Asaga who participated in the workshop benefited from their personal growth and helped them build positive relationships with each other, especially their parents.

“Samoan youth often engage in playful banter, even if it hurts them, the programeme aims to help them distinguish between playful jokes and hurtful ones, preventing the development of low self-esteem,” Siliniu said.

From 2020 – 2022 SVSG and UNICEF Pacific piloted the inaugural community prevention program with seven communities.  The goal is to utilise sustained community dialogue to influence social and behaviour change at the community level.

This is through meaningful engagement of key stakeholders such as parents, matai, women village council members, faith leaders, children, and youth.

According to SVSG, the programme has made a difference in each community and we eagerly anticipate continuing this journey towards positive discipline and empowering our young generation with invaluable life skills.