Nonprofit organisation Brown Girl Woke has received $15,000 tala from the New Zealand High Commission in Apia, Samoa to address mental health issues faced by youth.

B.G.W. Director Maluseu Doris Tulifau told the Samoa Observer that they are working on a musical with the  Samoa Performing Arts Center of Excellence (S.P.A.C.E.).

"We are  working on a youth mental health musical with Samoa Performing Arts Center of Excellence funded by New Zealand High Commission for the 60th anniversary Friendship Treaty," she said.

"We are currently rehearsing at the S.P.A.C.E. dance studio in the aim to visit schools in the next two weeks.”

Maluseu said the $15,000 marks the first time the nonprofit organisation has received funding to address youth mental health issues.

“This is the first time we have received funding for our youth outreaches on mental health though we have been doing it for three years now.”

The funding will be spent on transportation costs as well as equipment for their outreach programme. The title of the outreach will also connect to the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Friendship.

"Teu Le Vā: nurturing our relationship 60th anniversary treaty of friendship is what we are calling it," she said.

Currently, they are waiting for the acceptance of invitations that were sent to six schools.

"We are waiting for the schools to accept our invitation so there will be three rural schools and three in town first, we also aim to go to American Samoa," Maluseu said.

Asked how performing arts and music helps youth and their mental health, she made reference to having space for youth through performing arts and music.

"Making space to talk about it. A lot of kids are going through depression anxiety and don’t know what it is," she said. 

"Then we can have discussions on solutions and how to talk about it and get help. 

"We hope that the musical is a way to bring up mental health in a way where kids can speak up.

"We know the silence is a huge issue in Samoa on all these taboo issues so we find that performing arts is another way to speak out.”