Head of BlueSky Aoe'e Adolfo Montenegro, President of Samoa Victim Support Group Lina Chang and Digicel's Talai Junior Lene at the launch of the SVSG Helpline 800-7874
SVSG launch of 24hour Helpline a success
The launch of the SVSG 24Hour Helpline 8007874 (800-SVSG) on 30 April
is a milestone in the history of the organisations services to the community.
A big event that saw Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi as
guest speaker who encouraged the television stations on island to continue
supporting the cause by promoting the service.
So what is the SVSG Helpline?
It is SVSG Utilizing communication as a tool for our people to
access quality support 24/7. Samoa Victim Support Group has been working with
its supporting partners Bluesky Samoa and Digicel Samoa since mid-2012 to
arrange and finalize the operation of a 24-Hour Help Line service.
The Help Line service is SVSG’s response to the identified need for our
people to access support at all times, especially in emergency situations
requiring immediate assistance.
It is a support service that highlights a community taking ownership of
its responsibilities for security in the families and achieving our goal for a
safer Samoa. Having the two main telecommunication companies, namely
Bluesky Samoa and Digicel Samoa partnering with SVSG in the operation of the
Help Line is an indication in itself of a community in solidarity.
This solidarity is vitally important to SVSG and its work because without it, we
would not be able to reach out to our people requiring assistance in times of
need.
A word of thanks
SVSG Patron, Hon. Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau during the event acknowledged with gratitude and appreciation the leadership of Aoe’e Aldofo Montenegro – CEO of Bluesky Samoa and Pepe Christian Fruean – CEO of Digicel Samoa, for uniting as one in supporting the operation of SVSG’s Help Line
services.
Samoa Victim Support Group Partners with Samoan Ministers Fellowship Wellington New Zealand for Cyclone Evans Relief Operation
In partnership with Samoa Victim Support Group, the Samoan Ministers Fellowship in Wellington New Zealand lead by Reverend Popo Sua, commenced work on 18 March 2013 in getting relief assistance out to the families severely affected by Cyclone Evan.
The process involved visits out there in the worst affected areas from the floods such as Lelata, Maagao, Vaisigano, Maagiagi, Faatoia, Vaiala, Apia Park and Matautu; identifying families with houses completely damaged, those with minor damages requiring renovations and those with household effects completely washed away by the floods.
At the end of the Relief Operations, a total of 117 families were blessed with assistance to help them with rebuilding their houses, courtesy of the Samoa Ministers Fellowship in Wellington New Zealand. In addition, we have to date 20 children from families affected by the Cyclone Evan but otherwise opted to have the Minister’s Fellowship cover school fees for their children for the first term rather than assisting them in rebuilding their houses. This gesture is also in support of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture call emphasising the importance of our children’s education. These two areas of assistance had taken the overall assistance by the Samoan Ministers Fellowship in Wellington New Zealand to reach the whole of Samoa.
And Samoa Victim Support Group is humbled by the Fellowship’s trust to partner with us in getting the relief assistance out there to our community in need. This is the magnitude of the trust our supporting partners have on us and according to SVSG President, Mrs Lina Chang, “we are happy and fortunate to have the trust of our partners in carrying out the support services for our community and for this, we are very grateful.”
The process involved visits out there in the worst affected areas from the floods such as Lelata, Maagao, Vaisigano, Maagiagi, Faatoia, Vaiala, Apia Park and Matautu; identifying families with houses completely damaged, those with minor damages requiring renovations and those with household effects completely washed away by the floods.
At the end of the Relief Operations, a total of 117 families were blessed with assistance to help them with rebuilding their houses, courtesy of the Samoa Ministers Fellowship in Wellington New Zealand. In addition, we have to date 20 children from families affected by the Cyclone Evan but otherwise opted to have the Minister’s Fellowship cover school fees for their children for the first term rather than assisting them in rebuilding their houses. This gesture is also in support of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture call emphasising the importance of our children’s education. These two areas of assistance had taken the overall assistance by the Samoan Ministers Fellowship in Wellington New Zealand to reach the whole of Samoa.
And Samoa Victim Support Group is humbled by the Fellowship’s trust to partner with us in getting the relief assistance out there to our community in need. This is the magnitude of the trust our supporting partners have on us and according to SVSG President, Mrs Lina Chang, “we are happy and fortunate to have the trust of our partners in carrying out the support services for our community and for this, we are very grateful.”
COUNSELLING FOR SVSG VICTIMSCounselling for SVSG Victims
A group of fifteen girls under the care of Samoa Victim Support Group ranging from ages 13 to 21 are currently undertaking counselling sessions to help them through their recovery process.
Providing the counselling sessions that take place twice a week is Australian Ralph Kluge. Mr Kluge offered his services on voluntary basis.
He has many years experience in counselling and social work.
Part of his assistance is providing counselling to victims of domestic violence who approach SVSG for assistance.
Already he is providing these extra counselling sessions for these women who have sought the help of the organisation in their violent relationship issues.
SVSG is grateful to Mr Kluge for his assistance and providing opportunities for the young victims of sexual crime with the opportunity to be able to move on from their old lives and into budding and awaiting bright futures.
President of the organisation Mrs Lina Chang said Mr Kluge’s assistance is very timely.
“We are thankful to Ralph for providing this help to these young beautiful children reminding them that they are precious and loved.”
EDUCATION HEAD IN SAMOA SUPPORT SVSG
The street kids that attend the Samoa Victim Support Group received a very special
surprise visit Monday morning.
Chief Executive of the Ministry of Education
Sports and Culture Matafeo Falanaipupu Tanielu Aiafi was that special visitor.
Accompanying him was President of the organisation Mrs Lina Chang.
After speaking with the children Matafeo quickly expressed how impressed he was
with the student’s academic abilities.
His visit was to experience firsthand
the programme and progress to these children provided by the SVSG Home School.
It also gave him the opportunity to confirm his hundred per cent support of
SVSG’s school programme that caters to more than ten children from different
villages and family backgrounds in Upolu.
“The Ministry is happy to support
the Samoa Victim Support Group school programme for the street kids,” he said.
Therefore the Ministry through Matafeo plans to work closely together with
SVSG to cater for these kids educational needs.
The school started in
2011.
Mrs Chang said the new found relationship is a positive partnership
that will ensure the development of the education of the children attending the
school.
“SVSG is grateful to Matafeo for taking the time to come and
visiting our children at the Home School.”
SVSG continues to assist Samoa with disaster relief after Cyclone Evan
SVSG relief team distributing sheets, food and drink to families in need.
The wake of Cyclone Evan affected the whole of Samoa and Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) was no exception. True to its motto of “We Support, We Care, We Help, We Are Your Family” SVSG extended its arms to embrace Cyclone Evans victims as part of our support services to the community.
From Thursday morning of 13 December 2012 before the cyclone hit us to date, SVSG had been working non stop to ensure that we are out there to assist our families in need. The Executive, staff and volunteers have set up camp from Day 1 to ensure that we are on hand in case of any emergency assistance required. This is the practicality of our work, and this is the magnitude of our response system in place for the confidence the community have in us and our work.
While the priority at the time was to secure the three shelters we operate for our children victims and our office, at the same time, we planned ahead for welfare assistance that our community would need following the devastation of Cyclone Evans.
Three weeks since the disaster of Cyclone Evan, our emergency response team is still hard at work, helping to rebuild businesses, houses and provide the necessities of daily living, such as food, water and clothing, to all our families in need.
SVSG is grateful for the wonderful response from everyone in Samoa and abroad who have chosen to partner with SVSG by donating monetary gifts, supplies or volunteering their time to rebuild our nation. We are humbled to have so many people that believe in us. Fa'afetai Lava.
We will endeavor to keep you all updated with all the work that SVSG continues to do throughout the following month.
If you are interested in more information or to find out how to support our disaster relief effort please feel free to contact us:
phone: +685 757 6601 or +685 777 0971
email: svsginsamoa@gmail.com
From Thursday morning of 13 December 2012 before the cyclone hit us to date, SVSG had been working non stop to ensure that we are out there to assist our families in need. The Executive, staff and volunteers have set up camp from Day 1 to ensure that we are on hand in case of any emergency assistance required. This is the practicality of our work, and this is the magnitude of our response system in place for the confidence the community have in us and our work.
While the priority at the time was to secure the three shelters we operate for our children victims and our office, at the same time, we planned ahead for welfare assistance that our community would need following the devastation of Cyclone Evans.
Three weeks since the disaster of Cyclone Evan, our emergency response team is still hard at work, helping to rebuild businesses, houses and provide the necessities of daily living, such as food, water and clothing, to all our families in need.
SVSG is grateful for the wonderful response from everyone in Samoa and abroad who have chosen to partner with SVSG by donating monetary gifts, supplies or volunteering their time to rebuild our nation. We are humbled to have so many people that believe in us. Fa'afetai Lava.
We will endeavor to keep you all updated with all the work that SVSG continues to do throughout the following month.
If you are interested in more information or to find out how to support our disaster relief effort please feel free to contact us:
phone: +685 757 6601 or +685 777 0971
email: svsginsamoa@gmail.com
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Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) was established in 2005 whose mission is to provide integrated, personalised, professional service to all survivors of crime.
The organization was set up on a dream of a young, single lawyer who identified the difficulties faced by victims who do not have support from family members. Also, there was no place of refuge and support for the victims. Ex-police officers and members of a criminal team came together to form SVSG mainly to be responsible for providing support and counseling for the victims. Initially set up to care, support, and help victims of sexual crimes, SVSG saw after the first few cases it handled, that victims of other areas also sought to get help. As such, SVSG has now extended its arms to embrace victims in any area of need, whether it be domestic violence, harassment in the work place, victims of poverty, etc. SVSG has seen past the pain, tears and heartache of many victims, and brought out joy, confidence, belief in oneself and justice for those who in the past, have been brushed aside because they were without a voice to speak up for them. SVSG is taking a stand, and will continue to stand, and MAKE A DIFFERENCE in the lives of many, for we believe that anyone and everyone can become a victim |
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