The Samoa Victim Support Group is extending the economic empowerment concept to include family empowerment in the continued advocacy work to address violence against women and girls.
This was the focus of the Family Empowerment Program (FEP) held at the Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi Conference Centre in which SVSG is piloting the Program with 25 out of 100 Nofotane Women Role Models and their husbands. There were 5 couples from Savaii and 20 couples representing Upolu.
The Family Empowerment Program is part of the SVSG-approved activities implemented with the Government’s financing assistance towards ending violence against women and girls initiative.
From 2022 to 2023, SVSG implemented income-generating activities for vulnerable groups such as unemployed untitled men, youth groups, parents of child vendors and nofotane women.
For the 2023 – 2024 financial year, the Family Empowerment Program comprised of the SHINE Self-esteem building, Positive Discipline Parenting, Health and Wellbeing is being piloted, all geared towards addressing the link between poverty and crimes, specifically domestic violence.
Today’s attendance and participation from the nofotane women and their husbands tested the impact of the family empowerment program.
During these first sessions, inspiring testimonies were shared by the participating couples. Some men initially hesitated to attend, but as the program progressed, they finally recognized the value of joining their wives in this transformative journey, supporting their wives as the breadwinners of their families.
Together, they can contribute to building a healthy household but also to ending violence within their families and communities.
For all of the couples, this was the first program that they have attended together as a family. According to Vaai Togipo, husband of Kamalita Vaai Togipo of Malaemalu Falealili, “For years now, my wife has been attending workshops and meetings as part of her involvement with the Nofotane Program. Today, I was a bit shy to attend, but being in this big building and learning about what my wife and other nofotane women have been learning, reassured me that there is value in this Program. Our family has been developed because of my wife’s income from the Program. It is now my family’s turn to be empowered.”
SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang enthusiastically stated, “Seeing husbands actively supporting their wives in this project is wonderful. Their commitment and partnership demonstrate the collective effort needed to create stronger, more resilient families in Samoa.”
The community-driven approach reflects SVSG’s commitment to creating positive changes, establishing positive empowerment within households, and ending violence against women and girls in Samoa.
ENDS.
SOURCE – Samoa Victim Support Group
