The Samoa Victim Support Group’s Campus of Hope is the recipient of a mini-library with over 800 books.

The literacy treasure trove comes courtesy of firm Fletcher Construction Company Ltd and a 13-year-old New Zealand-based Samoan girl Epi Tusani. 

Apia-based Fletcher Construction Company Ltd Branch Manager, Geoff Hedge, presented the mini-library on behalf of his firm and Ms Tusani to the SVSG management in a small ceremony at Tuanaimato on Thursday.

He said the idea for a library came from Ms Tusani who has been active in charity work in New Zealand and Samoa since 2013.

"Her name is Epi Tusani. Epi spoke with her uncle Tuala Tusani about the idea of a small library for children to enjoy books. Tuala then approached a contact of his in Fletchers, Craig Kyle and so Epi's dream started to turn into reality," he said. "Donations of books came from Fletcher's team members in New Zealand and throughout the company and were shipped here whilst the library was built by my team here in Samoa.”

Mr Hedge told the Campus of Hope residents that he hoped they would enjoy reading the books and described the presentation as the definition of what community and friendship means.

"I hope that all of you enjoy the library and the gift of reading, books are so much more than words on a page, they provide an escape into another world, they can make you excited, they can help us understand who you are, they show us what community and friendship mean and they can help us find our place in community and life."

The donation of the mini-library was initially scheduled a few months ago, added Mr Hedge, but had to be postponed due to the measles epidemic late last year followed by the coronavirus global pandemic.

"We are here to help, we are here to help the community, we are here to help the Samoan people," he added.

SVSG President, Siliniu Lina Chang, said they are grateful to receive the mini-library from Fletcher Construction Company Ltd and Ms Tusani.

"You have seen the smile on the faces of the children so it's a beautiful gift and we are very grateful for this," she said before thanking everyone involved.

Ms Tusani has been involved in community work since she was seven-years-old. Her passion to help others started after she met a homeless man in Mangere, New Zealand in 2013 and gave him her meal.

It was there that she decided to do more for those in need and helped to raise money for a water tank donated to St Joseph Primary School in Le'auva'a. This kicked-off her partnership with the local communities, and she has now turned her focus to building 'Chicken Coop Libraries' for local primary schools in Samoa.