The residents of Satalo Falealili successfully completed a comprehensive four-day training strengthening their resilience against natural disasters and climate change impacts in Samoa.

The Community Disaster and Climate Risk Management (CDCRM) training held last week had more than 80 participants including village matai, women, youth, children as well as people with disabilities. They joined the simulation exercise, showcasing a collective effort toward community preparedness and response.

A highlight of the event was the participation of the US ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, Thomas Stewart Udall and his delegation, underscoring the United States' commitment to supporting Samoa in building resilience in the face of increasing climate-related challenges.

“As we are all too aware, disasters are inevitable. However, our response to them can make all the difference in minimizing their impact. Today, we stand witness to the culmination of a remarkable effort—the completion of this CDCRM program in Satalo,” said Mr. Udall.

The CDCRM training is one of the three core components of Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Samoa’s “Mau I le To’o (Held with Strength)” project being funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Pacific American Fund.

It is an initiative by the Government specifically catering to building the capacity and strengthening the safety and resilience of vulnerable communities through training and awareness programs to enhance their preparedness and response knowledge towards the severe impacts of natural disasters and the evolving risks of climate change.

It also encouraged the community to take responsibility for their safety in times of disaster. Satalo village is the eighth community to have undergone the CDCRM training with plans by ADRA Samoa to run the training for 12 more communities in Upolu and Savai’i.

The program is coordinated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) through the Disaster Management Office (DMO) and is currently led by ADRA Samoa with the assistance of a team of experts from the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority (SFESA), Samoa Red Cross Society (SRCS), Samoa Meteorological Office (MET), Ministry of Police, Prison & Correctional Services (MPPCS), Samoa Family Health Association (SFHA), Nuanua O Le Alofa (NOLA), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Ministry of Women Community & Social Development (MWCSD)