Two talented Samoan females have been in Fiji representing Samoa at a multi-shareholder partnership workshop organised by the Asia Foundation for the Let’s Read program in the Pacific. 

The Samoan representatives are Ms. Enid Westerlund-Samuelu (Writer and Reading Program Samoa rep) and Siufaga Maria Kerslake (Illustrator Samoa rep). 

The workshop had participants from all over the region, including writers and illustrators from Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, New Zealand and Australia, and its objective was to develop a multi-stakeholder partnership and clear strategy to take forward this initiative in Fiji and across the region for the Asia Foundation's Let's Read programme. 

Let’s Read encourages children, families, and communities to embrace reading by creating pathways to relevant Pacific reading content, in the form of digital and print books, and through impactful reading opportunities and free access to books. 

The Let’s Read digital library currently holds more than 8,000 titles in more than 40 languages including Tok Pisin, Hiri Motu, Fijian, Fiji Hindi and Fiji Sign Language from the Pacific.   

In September 2021, The Asia Foundation piloted a small but very successful BookLab, which is a book creation process in the Let’s Read program. It created 10 fun engaging books translated into Fiji’s three languages with characters, themes and setting that Pacific kids can relate to in both print and digital formats. The 10 titles have also been made into audio books. A second BookLab held in March this year saw the creation of five books that have also been translated into the vernaculars and Fiji sign language.

This initiative has many great opportunities for impact. The dual focus on creative Pacific content as well as reading programs, public outreach, and campaigns that create fun reading experiences for children, families and communities’ mean impacts could include improvements in children’s literacy and broader educational achievement, skills development within the Pacific creative sector and the promotion of Pacific cultures and philosophies through Pacific stories.

Speaking to the Sunday Samoan, Ms Westerlund said they have been privileged to have been asked to join such an amazing workshop.

"It’s always a privilege to be given an opportunity to represent Samoa," she said.

Ms. Westerlund – who started the Enara Reading Programme in Samoa to help the children of Samoa become "confident readers" – is of the view that the learning and ideas she received from the workshop will help develop her reading programme in Samoa further. 

"Reading, writing and painting our own stories for our young readers to read is important," she added. 

"When children see themselves in books, it encourages and motivates them. They can see themselves as heroes in their own stories."

Partnering with others and sharing ideas, resources with others is the way of the future is her take-away from the workshop, added Ms. Westerlund.

"It’s how our projects can be sustainable in the long run as we cannot rely on government or funding to continue these projects but they do help. 

"I intend to write my own children's books in the near future. My first series will be completely free and available online. In addition, I will be using Samoan-born and bred local artists to bring these books to life. 

"This is something that’s in the plans because we need to write, read and paint our own stories."

Ms. Westerlund said this had been a learning opportunity for her and an experience they are grateful to have been a part of. 

"This was an amazing experience and networking with participants from the Pacific region was invaluable. Thanks to Dr Milika Solbey and the Asia Foundation for inviting Samoa to be a part of it.  

"I was in awe of the richness and intricacies that our fellow writers and illustrators brought to the table. I’m sure Siufaga Kerslake, my colleague that came with me, feels the same way. 

"If we can inspire one person, one young genius who see their future in these spaces, I’m truly thankful for that. Viia ai Le Atua."