A new initiative called H.W.H.R. - Her World Her Rules - aims to promote female participation in basketball but also to tackle violence against women.

The program, a three day camp for young girls, aims to empower young women and girls to recognise that violence is never okay and also push for their inclusion in a sport long viewed as the exclusive domain of men. 

The initiative is sponsored by the international governing body of basketball F.I.BA., together with the Samoa Basketball Association in order to increase and boost the numbers of women and girls in basketball but other sports too

Pualele Craig, the project manager of the H.W.H.R. initiative, told the Samoa Observer the programme was a new means of tackling a long-standing problem. 

"We are using the game of basketball as a positive platform to highlight the social message of stopping violence against women," she said. 

"F.I.B.A.'s priority is to increase the participation of women in basketball, this is why we're using the sport today to teach our young girls from the age of 5-16 that they can play sports dominated by men.”

Tuugalei Afualo Lesa, the Family Service Manager for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, an anti-violence advocate praised the novel approach.

"It was quite interesting to hear from these young girls participating in the workshop that they already have an understanding of what violence is, whether it was verbal or physical they knew what it was,” she said. 

“It is very positive to see that they're informed on what this terrible issue is about.'

"We did some activities, for example I told them to close their eyes and picture themselves exposed or be in close proximity to violence, and then asked them how they would react to such circumstances.

"At the end of the workshop all of them pledged to be life-long advocates of exterminating and ending violence against women in every aspect of such as the home environment, church,  and school.”

The workshop concluded with members of the Samoa Basketball Association teaching the girls about the fundamental skills of basketball.

“Basketball is a great sport, it has so many benefits such as learning teamwork, discipline and getting to interact with their peers,” said Craig. 

“We have so many female athletes who I think want to play the game but they just can't get around the idea that basketball is a man's game. 

So we hope that by the end of camp they will embrace and play the sport I love.”