The self-employment which the nofotane women in Samoa and the work of the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.) left a great impression on the European Ambassador, Barbara Plinkert during her visit to Samoa.

Ms. Plinkert had in her agenda since last year to visit the S.V.S.G and see for herself the service they provide in Samoa as well as for the nofotane women, before she visited the Campus of Hope last week.

The visit to the Nofotane Shop reaffirmed the result of the EU’s funding support from 2020 – 2022 through the Civil Society Support Programme (CSSP), for the Sustainable Income Generation and self employment of the Nofotane Women Project. Shopping around the Nofotane Shop, Ms. Plinkert was amazed by the creativity of the work of art by the nofotane women survivors of violence, whose products are sold at the shop.

According to a representative of the delegation of the EU, “The ambassador has already heard about the nofotane project last year and is very happy to have the opportunity to meet with you and find out more about it.”

Meanwhile, SVSG had the opportunity to meet with Ms. Plinkert briefly, during her visit to Samoa late last year.  However, during this visit, the Office of the Delegation of the European Union for the Pacific in Suva, had been liaising with SVSG to confirm the visit agenda by the EU Ambassador, with SVSG.

The Agenda included a visit to the Nofotane Shop within the SVSG main office in Apia; a presentation by the SVSG on the Nofotane Samoa Social Enterprise Project, a recently awarded grant by the European Union; and a visit to the Campus of Hope shelter facility.

The presentation by the SVSG management was next on the agenda of the visit, where Ms. Plinkert learnt about the Nofotane Samoa Social Enterprise Project, the current project funded by the EU from 2024-2026 for SVSG and its Nofotane program. Ms. Plinkert commended SVSG on submitting a strong application as highlighted by the successful grant. 

The visit to the Campus of Hope was highlighted by the ambassador’s time with the babies at the nursery. Again, she was amazed by the magnitude of SVSG’s work, and acknowledged the commitment to provide essential support and community programs to address gender-based violence.

SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang, acknowledged the funding support from the European Union to scale up empowerment programs for the nofotane women survivors of violence in Samoa.