An advocate in tackling violence against women and girls will attend a regional conference in Fiji and hopes to share and learn strategies to add value to their programs in Samoa.

Gabrielle Apelu will be traveling to Fiji next week as the Samoa Spotlight Initiative National Reference Group representative and founder and President of Apelu Sports to attend the Pacific Prevention Summit.

The theme of the conference will look at what works and prevent violence where people play, pray, to learn and engage together. It is a key space to reflect on the Pacific’s journey in preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG), assess the current interventions and approaches in communities, and how to manifest a future free of violence for women and girls. The summit will culminate in a roadmap for the Pacific’s prevention vision for the next five years. 

Ms. Apelu's participation will reflect and share learned strategies on what actually works in preventing violence against women and girls (VAWG) in the Pacific.

"The takeaway is more to share lessons and experiences as a woman in the sports organisation in Samoa and the work we have done and continue to do on preventing violence against women and girls," she said. 

"As a partner of the Samoa Spotlight Initiative, we design and deliver proven sports development and sports for development programs that address and can measure impact and change in GBV throughout the communities and sporting teams.

"It is a humble recognition of our work in this space that we have been given the opportunity to share experiences and also learn from our regional counterparts on what methodology they are using to address this issue."

Apelu Sports have been a key organisation in advancing gender justice through sports and highlight the work done over the years in strengthening the national efforts of Samoa, in combating gender based violence.

“We bring in a very different but relevant practical approach in uniting cultural values and sporting foundational values in how to streamline programs that address prevention of violence against women and girls and actually see measurable outcomes in doing so," Ms. Apelu added. "We are extremely fortunate to represent Samoa, Samoan sporting women and the Samoa Sports Sector as well.”