Digicel Samoa donated all money intended for the farewell of it's retired Chairman Pepe Christian Fruean to the Samoa Victims Support Group, according to his wishes.

The visit on Thursday was bittersweet as this follows the recent announcement by Digicel Samoa of the retirement of its long serving Chairman, Pepe.

According to the Digicel Samoa Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Seuseu, the Company’s plans to farewell its retired Chairman has been diverted to meet Pepe Christian’s request, to save all the money intended for his farewell, and donate it towards his charity, the Samoa Victim Support Group.

Speaking on behalf of the SVSG Board of Directors, Siliniu Lina Chang acknowledged the retired Chairman of Digicel Samoa, and his love for the children.

‘You will always be remembered for your sincerity in helping SVSG anyway you can, Pepe Christian Fruean.  Even your farewell event, you have channeled it to help heal the abused children.  The impact of your leadership role within Digicel Samoa contributed to the hundreds of successfully reintegrated children survivors of violence, back with their families, and the many more lives saved through the Helpline service. Fa’afetai le alofa,” she said.

“The children of hope join SVSG in wishing the Pepe Christian Fruean and the Digicel Samoa family a merry Christmas and a blessed New Year.”

The Samoa Victim Support Group refers to the relationship it has built with the Digicel Samoa over the last 17 years, as a collaboration towards healing the survivors.

According to the SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang, it is unusual to connect a corporate body which provides a range of telecommunication services, with a social service provider organization for the abused and the vulnerable.

“However, while SVSG was set up in 2005, Digicel launched it services in 2006, and since then, the relationship has developed into a very close connection,” she said.

“From co-sponsoring with another local telecommunication company the operation of the SVSG Helpline service, to coordinating the fundraising drive which has built the Ray of Hope shelter for pregnant abused victims of rape, to the ongoing wellbeing support for the abused and vulnerable children at the Campus of Hope shelter facility, the collaboration has been fruitful.”

For more than 10 years, Digicel Samoa had made it a tradition to host a Christmas event with the Campus of Hope at the cinemas, where the abused children would be treated to a night at the movies, having the cinema all to themselves.