As Samoa slowly enters in to the festive season, the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.) is preparing its response team to ensure support is available to the community during the holiday period.

According to the non-government organisation that operates out of Tuanaimato, this is the period when reports of violence in homes increase.

With this preparation work comes a Christmas reminder from the S.V.S.G. President Siliniu Lina Chang to the communities in Samoa.

“When it all feels too much, remember, you are not alone S.V.S.G. help is just a phone call away on 800-7874 – it is free and it works 24 hours a day,” she said.

The reminder from the S.V.S.G. President came at a time when S.V.S.G. and its village representatives, joined a grieving family further inland at Toamua on Wednesday, when they laid to rest a 13-year-old child who was a victim of an alleged discipline that went wrong.

As a child protection agency and a support service provider for gender-based violence, the S.V.S.G. has been working with the family since the incident happened.

In a statement issued by the non-government organisation, the S.V.S.G. said the remoteness of the family from the rest of the village was noticeable. 

They also noticed that awareness on primary prevention to end violence against children is lacking together with lack of information on basic hygiene to support the health and wellbeing of growing families.

In terms of economic empowerment, the plight of the Nofotane women residing in this area were amongst the challenges identified during their assessment of the family’s situation.

The SVSG reminder is also timely as the country heads into the Christmas season. A season associated with celebration, laughter and joy for the greatest gift of the Messiah born into this world. A season also where the number of gender-based violence incidents reported to the S.V.S.G. increases.

“Remember to call S.V.S.G. Helpline number 800-7874 when all feels too much. We are here to help you,” said Siliniu.