- NOFOTANE
- YOUTH
- VILLAGE REPS
- COMMUNITY
- LAW CENTRE
- TRIBUTES
- ONLINE SHOP
We are dedicated to creating a brighter future for those in need through collective effort .
We connect people to meaningful causes. Together, we create a lifeline for those who need it most.
SVSG successfully applied to the European Commission through the Civil Society Support Programme 2 for the Sustainable Income Generation and Self-Employment of Nofotane Women Project (2020-2022). The project attracted over 6,000 registered members and alleviated poverty, anxiety, and financial distress for 1,410 self-employed Nofotane women and their families during the Covid-19 pandemic. To sustain the momentum of the economic empowerment of Nofotane Women, SVSG successfully applied to the European Commission for a project aiming to support the transition of the Nofotane Program to a social enterprise. The NSSE Project will contribute to 6 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by using an innovative approach to tackling gender-based violence against Nofotane women in Samoa.
Project Narrative:
The project aims to raise awareness and understanding of mental health issues related to
drug addiction among rural Nofotane women and youth in Samoa.
It seeks to reduce mental health problems, family violence, and child abuse linked to drug
use by empowering vulnerable community members. Through community education,
seminars, and workshops, the project engages women, youth, men, and church leaders in
proactive prevention efforts. By fostering open dialogue at the village level, it promotes early
identification and intervention to address these social challenges.
1. Community based education on mental health and drugs to be conducted in each of
the 3 districts. One district contains more than 4 villages.
2. Conduct Drug Awareness Programs for 10 Schools (7 Upolu & 3 Savaii)
3. Conduct Drug Awareness & Counselling Programs for SVSG Staff & Board - 2
Trainings
The project is expected to create a healthier environment by raising awareness of the links
between mental health, substance abuse, and environmental harm.
It will empower the community—especially women and youth—to take responsibility for their
surroundings through education and therapeutic initiatives like community gardens that
promote sustainability, nutrition, and well-being.
Aim
The aim of the SVSG Market Vendors Awareness Programme is to raise the awareness and
understanding of the issues related to domestic violence and abuse, including safe guarding
measures within the community, and to provide basic education and support to individuals
working as market vendors in Fugalei (Upolu) and Salelologa (Savai’i) markets.
Objectives:
* A workshop on a basic understanding of domestic violence and abuse, their
effects and access to support/referral services for victims is developed and
implemented
* By end of February 2026, a minimum of 100 market vendors from Upolu and
Savai’I markets have attended these workshops
* An awareness campaign is developed and implemented using social media,
signages, billboards and SVSG’s visits to two designated markets
* A brochure developed (in Samoan) with tips and basic information on domestic
violence and abuse, including safe guarding measures, and support services
available
The EVE Project is a research study conducted in partnership with local villages to develop an indigenous approach to preventing violence against women. Locally, the EVE Project is referred to as A Le Saua Lele Alofa (Love Shouldn’t Hurt). SVSG selected 20 village representatives from their existing network to develop an approach for researching violence against women that works within Fa’a Samoa (‘the Samoan way’). The EVE Project involves four different activities conducted over a four-year period:
By the end of the EVE Project, we will have developed a new approach to researching violence against women that is uniquely Samoan. We will have better understandings of how communities are trying to prevent violence against women in local villages, and how we can support them in these efforts. We will also have a uniquely Samoan tool for measuring the prevalence of violence against women and an understanding of what violence means to local community members. Finally, we will have developed an intervention that can be used across the country to reduce violence and improve the lives of women in Samoa.
The Samoa Victim Support Group Youth Empowerment Program aims to address the high rates of domestic violence and abuse, which contributes to poor mental health outcomes and social instability for Samoan youth. Through targeted workshops, the program‘s objective is to help youth to better understand domestic violence within their cultural context, as well as equip them with the resources to be able to communicate with village leaders about available support services. Through its youth network of SVSG village representatives, the program seeks to empower young individuals to navigate challenges, engage their communities, foster safe spaces, and advocate for themselves. The expected impact includes improved mental health outcomes, better youth engagement and a stronger, more resilient youth community that actively contributes to challenging domestic violence and abuse in Samoa.
The project aimed to strengthen the business skills of Nofotane women entrepreneurs in Samoa through three workshops. SVSG focused on delivering business development modules, targeting crucial aspects for small and micro-business operations. With the goal of involving 20 women in Salelologa and 80 in Upolu, the project aimed to explore three modules, focusing on:
The Tautua – Human Development for All Program is an eight-year partnership between the Government of Australia and the Government of Samoa to support Samoa’s priorities in human development and social inclusion as outlined in the Pathway for the Development of Samoa. Samoa Gender Partnership Program is the first initiative of Tautua program. It aims to enhance economic empowerment for women, reduce gender-based violence, and increase access to services for women experiencing violence. SVSG is one of four civil society implementing partners in the initiative, which also includes Samoa Family Health Association, Samoa Women Association of Growers and the Women In Business Development Inc
Keeping your community clean and green, one pickup at a time for a healthier tomorrow for a clean earth & clear future.
