Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) is hoping that the support of hundreds of village leaders on Upolu will be able to generate the amount they aim to collect in their fundraiser this year.

The SVSG Online Fundraising Campaign titled Saving Lives 2023 is scheduled for 29 July 2023. Its overall objective is to keep its office doors open to serve an increasing number of vulnerable members of the community and provide more shelter as well as rehabilitation and education and empowerment programs for abused women and children.

The money raised would also enable the SVSG to continue to be the voice for the voiceless, support more of them to bravely tell their story and seek safety, and raise further community awareness through programs and campaigns on the collective responsibilities for a safer Samoa and provide additional resources for the 24-hour helpline and case management to improve response times for assistance.

On Wednesday, hundreds of village leaders in Upolu – who are registered as SVSG village representatives and referred to as the ‘backbone’ of the SVSG support services – gathered at the Travellers Point Hotel to discuss the fundraising.

According to SVSG president Siliniu Lina Chang, these men and women immediately took up ownership of coordinating the support from the community, towards the fundraising event.

She said they will advocate for support from their village councils, village women’s committee and the churches.

The Executive Committee of the SVSG Village Reps Upolu, led by Tusa Misi Tupuola of Matautu Falealili convened the meeting, taking notes of the different views and suggestions from the family of SVSG village representatives, to better coordinate the Online Fundraising Event.

“To hear the village leaders take up the responsibility for coordinating the fundraising for the whole community was simply humbling,” said Siliniu.

“They are really our backbone, and we are forever grateful for the sincerity of their love for our people, as highlighted by their tautua as SVSG village representatives.”

SVSG has recorded an increase in the number of cases being referred to them. There has also been an increase in the number of children who have been put into the care of the Campus of Hope, the children’s shelter operated by the organisation.

There were 72 abused and abandoned children (49 girls and 23 boys, ages 5 months to 19 years old) sheltered at the Campus during May – June 2022; inclusive of four babies (5 – 24 months).

For May – June 2023, there were 84 children residents at the Campus of Hope, inclusive of eight babies (newborn to 24 months).