Close to 30 young women who are survivors of sexual abuse and successfully reintegrated back into community by the Samoa Victim Support Group’s shelter care program met over the weekend at the Campus of Hope to network and reflect.

The annual gathering which started back in 2018, is the Sisters of Hope’s contribution as a young feminist group, towards raising awareness on building each other up, strengthening the sisterhood, resilience and wellbeing. The 30 young women have been through the program from 2006 to 2021.  

SVSG President and Sisters of Hope mentor Siliniu Lina Chang said it was good to see young women who have battled stigma and trauma to make it for themselves.

She said seeing the girls who were once scared and traumatized, withdrawn and depressed; rise up to become mothers themselves and continue with life.

Some of the survivors have returned to studying here or abroad.

“With funding support from FRIDA, the Young Feminist Fund, the Sisters of Hope have been encouraged time and time again to tell their stories in a safe space,” Siliniu said.

“These stories have been used as a way to take back young women survivor’s power and create a narrative that is healing and centres on empowerment.”

SVSG and Sisters of Hope have been involved in caring for survivors and creating safe spaces for them for a long time.

As a survivor centred initiative driven by inspirational and brave survivors of gender based violence, the Sisters of Hope are building themselves up for greater things ahead.  

A new Executive Committee has been set up for the Sisters of Hope, to drive the momentum forward and the long-term vision is to establish themselves as an organisation to inspire many young women to step up and out of violence.