What began as a three-week holiday to Samoa in 1984 turned into a lifelong connection and a transformational legacy in deaf education, thanks to the efforts of Australian couple Russell Watts and his wife. 

Their visit helped the seeds of Samoa’s deaf community and the national sign language movement.

At the time, Russell was a professional sign language interpreter and counsellor in Australia. Visiting Samoa, his curiosity grew about the state of deaf education in Samoa. 

Through local contacts, he met Feasili Keil, who established the Lototaumafai Centre in 1981 with the help of other-minded people. Lototaumafai is one of the first institutions in Samoa aimed at supporting people with disabilities.

“Before this time, many people with disabilities did not attend school. On my visit there, I saw there were three deaf students but no one knew how to effectively communicate with them,” said Mr Watts.

Determined to help, the couple returned in 1985 and 1986 for an extended three-month stay. During this time, Mr Watts volunteered at Lototaumafai, where he introduced sign language and began training teachers and interpreters. These early efforts laid the groundwork for the education of the deaf and accessibility services that continue today.  

In 1987 and 1988, Mr and Mrs Watts returned to Samoa for two years working full-time. Mrs Watts became a foundation teacher at the Robert Louis Stevenson School. While Mr Watts continued to support the growth of the deaf.

Even after leaving, their connection to Samoa endured. They visited frequently to reconnect with old friends and observe the progress of the deaf community. From 2010 to 2012, Mr Watts returned to work with Senese Inclusive Education, strengthening interpreter training and classroom inclusion for deaf students.

“Samoa now has a flourishing deaf community, a strong group of professional interpreters, and its developing sign language,” Mr Watts said. “It’s something to be truly proud of.”

He also acknowledged the many dedicated local individuals who have kept the vision alive over the decades. 

“There’s still a lot of work to be done – the journey never really ends – but Samoa leads the way in the South Pacific when it comes to deaf inclusion. You should be very proud of the deaf community for what they have achieved and continue to achieve, because I know I am."