The Chairman of the Congregational Christian Church of Samoa, Reverend Esera Auatama Esera, Faletua Tamara Esera and the congregation at CCCS Sapapalii have welcomed the Samoa Victim Support Group on Sunday afternoon, to continue the sustained community dialogue on child protection.
The CCCS congregation at Sapapalii is now into its second session of workshops on Positive Discipline Parenting and Life Skills for Adolescent, as part of the ongoing community prevention work by the SVSG in partnership with the UNICEF Pacific.
During this second session, parents from Sapapali’i had the opportunity to self-reflect on the importance of building a good and healthy relationship with their children. The adolescents on the other hand, continued to learn on building their life skills, mainly understanding the “negative effects of alcohol, drugs and peer pressure” on their daily lives.
SVSG’s Community Team observed a significant shift in engagement between the first and second sessions from the Sapapali’i participants. Parents have become more engaged, sharing insights from their personal experiences during their discussions. The adolescents on the other hand learnt about respectful relations, prevention of intrepersonal violence, drugs & alchohol and peer pressure.
Most notable was an open dialogue amongst the adolescents on the importance of fostering positive relationships among themselves, and the increase in number of drugs and alcohol related cases reported by Police, involving youth, adolescents, and in some cases, the children. The environment at the church where the workshop was help, contributed to the adolescents open dialogue, as it provided the young ones with a safe space where they
felt comfortable sharing their challenges and struggles. By doing so, they believe they can collectively support one another in overcoming these difficulties, rather than passing judgment on each other.
The parents’ session, with a focus on providing warmth and stability in a child upbringing, was intense. The team delved into breaking barriers between parents and their children’s relationships. Project Manager Papali’i Ene encouraged parents to engage in open discussions with adolescents and actively participate in their children’s upbringing, rather than relying solely on external sources for education. A participating parent shared, “These programs are crucial in changing my relationship with my children. The usual harsh discipline and punishment shouldn’t be the only way to raise kids these days. This program helps me be more open in conversation and more patient with my children.”
It is important for the parents to break this generational cycle of harsh discipline on children as a normal upbringing. “The change starts with them; we do not need to smack or speak harsh words to discipline our children. Practicing positive parenting helps them build relationships that will have a positive impact on both the parent and children’s lives.” SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang explained.
Sapapali’i, a community actively involved in SVSG programs, has witnessed significant changes in their family dynamics. The village & church leaders commend the efforts of SVSG & UNICEF in providing these community outreach programs, that will help them build a positive and safe environment for the children. One of the highlights of the prevention programs by SVSG at Sapapalii, was the role of the church as community change agents. This is important given the church’s crucial role in the spiritual life of our people.
“The Community Child Protection Program in Samoa was piloted by the SVSG and the UNICEF Pacific in 2020 and is now being scaled up to include more villages and colleges. The collaborative effort is very important as it aims to safeguard children and promote their well-being through supporting both the parents and the adolescents.” Siliniu Lina Chang
ENDS.
SOURCE – Samoa Victim Support Group
