Upolu can learn from Savai’i

By Ilia L. Likou 04 July 2017, 12:00AM

When it comes to youth empowerment, Upolu should learn from Savai’i. 

That is the opinion of Nu’u Tanuvasa of Lalomalava, Savai’i. 

The Village Voice caught up with Nu’u while he was waiting for the bus to head to the wharf for Savai’i. He said the youth in Upolu has so much to learn from the youth in Savai’i. 

“In Savai’i the village Councils emphasize youth empowerment to take responsibility for their actions,” he said 

“What I mean is, we are taught to make better decisions. We suffer the consequences of our actions and we are challenged to be better. “You make a mistake, guess who you face... the chiefs in the village. 

The sad part is, it’s not only you that is implicated. 

“It’s your whole family that will fork up the money to pay the fines. 

“So the youth won’t dare do anything stupid, because the whole family will suffer. 

And in some cases, the families are ousted from the villages and that is the worse case scenario for anyone... that’s why our youth are always mindful of these things,” said Nu’u. 

He told the village voice the Village Councils in Upolu should also set an example and lay don’t stringent rules in each respective villages. Nu’u also spoke about the fightings amongst the schools in Upolu. 

“This will never happen in Savai’i and I think this is one way to stop these fights, is to go back to the village councils and families. “Go back to the roots, the parents need to address these issues with their children,” he said. 

While marriage is far from Nuu’s mind, but when the time comes to have a family, he will teach his children the Savaii way of life. 

“I would want my children to live life in accordance with laws of the village. And this should be taught to the kids from when they are young. “My parents continuously lectured me since I was a young boy, the need to be an upstanding citizen in the village especially being a youth. “I don’t want to disappoint my parents, so I am always mindful of my decision, whether it will affect my future or not. 

“I’m only 19 years old, there are temptations left and right but I always reflect back on what my parents advise. So I stay away from things I know that can lead to problems,” Nu’u told Village Voice.

By Ilia L. Likou 04 July 2017, 12:00AM
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