[PRESS RELEASE Apia Samoa, 10th April 2025] – The Taiala Youth Exchange Program, a cultural and leadership initiative led by Brown Girl Woke and Samoan Solutions, was honored to meet with the Honorable Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa on April 10, 2025, at the Prime Minister’s Office in Apia.
The meeting brought together Samoan diaspora youth and national leadership to discuss service, identity, and the importance of reconnecting to Fa’aSamoa.
At 11:33 a.m., the Prime Minister was formally welcomed in Samoan by Jocelynette Leilua, Program Manager of Brown Girl Woke. The youth were introduced and acknowledged for their work and commitment to their cultural roots.
The Prime Minister shared her reflections on leadership, shaped by the legacy of her mother and aunties—women who modeled integrity and service in governance.
After receiving her matai title at age 20, her political career began shortly after, grounded in education, faith, and community.
Youth Questions & Prime Minister’s Reflections
1. Donnavyn Tuitele: Who were your role models and mentors?
Fiame: “My mother, my aunties, and the women in my community. They didn’t call themselves mentors, but they always told me what to do. I was raised by strong women who were midwives, teachers, and community leaders.”
2. Nerisa Tuaua: Did you feel pressure to enter politics because of your family’s legacy?
Fiame: “No, I always had an interest in politics. But things happened faster than I expected. When my father passed away, it shifted everything. I received my matai title at 20, and my leadership path began from there.”
3. Alexandria Saelua: How do you care for your own mental health while serving Samoa?
Fiame: “Mental health is so important. We don’t talk about it enough here. There’s only one mental health organization in Samoa, and a small hospital unit. I try to reflect, stay close to nature, and surround myself with positive people. Rest and prayer help ground me.”
4. Manalita Sagote: What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?
Fiame: “Serving in the Ministry of Education and rebuilding after the cyclones. We had to redesign the curriculum to support bilingual learning—keeping Samoan language strong while teaching
English.”
5. Epi Aumavae: What message do you have for diaspora youth trying to reconnect to Samoa?
Fiame: “You can’t make up identity—it has to be lived. But you can build it. If our young people are supported where they are, they’ll carry Samoa with them. If not, we need to welcome them back with open arms and strong culture.”
6. Why Taiala Matters
a) Maluseu Doris Tulifau, founder of Brown Girl Woke, shared:
“Brown Girl Woke was created in Samoa as a safe space for diaspora Samoans who carry a deep desire to return—not just to reconnect, but to serve with humility.
Coming home isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary. Taiala helps bridge that journey. It allows us to ground our experiences in Fa’aSamoa, and to give back in a way that honors both where we come from and what we’ve learned. This exchange reminds us there is always room to return, to listen, and to serve with grace.”
b) Epi Leone Aumavae, founder of Samoan Solutions and Taiala Program Coordinator, added:
“Taiala was created to help our youth find their identity by learning about being samoan —not just by blood, but through culture, language, and service. We come back to Samoa because this is where we’re reminded who we are. For so many diaspora youth, that connection has been broken or never fully formed. This exchange gives them a path—not just to visit, but to belong.”
Brown Girl Woke & Samoan Solutions Leadership
1. Maluseu Doris Tulifau – Founder, Brown Girl Woke
2. Jocelynette Leilua – Program Manager, Brown Girl Woke
3. Prince Lalovi – Cultural Program Assistant, Brown Girl Woke
4. Epi Leone Aumavae – Founder, Samoan Solutions & Taiala Program Coordinator
2025 Taiala Youth Delegation
1. Lulani Jolee Tafilele Moors
2. Donnavyn Iliganoa Fatumalala Tuitele
3. Nerisa Anita Tuaua
4. Manalita Akenese Sefulu Sagote
5. Charmaine Susana Ah Kuoi – Sanft, Chaperone
6. Aaliyah Puataunofo Aumavae, Media Team Lead
7. Alexandria Laloifi Saelua, Mental Health Educator & Facilitator
7) A Cultural Homecoming
Prime Minister Mataafa left the youth with a reminder that identity is not fixed—it is something we choose to honor and carry.
“E matitiva fa’afesaga’i.”
“Even in poverty, be gracious, be generous, and stay connected to others.”
She explained that poverty is not only material, but emotional and spiritual—and in moments of disconnection, we must still choose compassion and community.
Taiala is more than a program. It is a cultural homecoming, a bridge between generations, and a living example of how young Samoans across the globe are returning with purpose.
For media inquiries, partnerships, or to support the next Taiala cohort:
Brown Girl Woke | browngirlwoke.com
Samoan Solutions | samoansolutions.org
ENDS.
Photos by the Government of Samoa (Peseta Tusiga Taofiga)
