The women of Magiagi have a vision to open a souvenir shop to improve their livelihoods and to provide the best for their families.

In an attempt to reduce violence in homes, women are being economically empowered as financial stress has been one of the factors leading to violence.

To start afresh for 2025 and empower community women, the Samoa Victim Support Group conducted Life-Skill training for the Magiagi women of all ages. This initiative focused on building their capacities with basic skills to facilitate economic development within families and communities.

The NSSE project which aims at Nofotane women and their husbands envisions a Souvenir Shop in the future. SVSG continues to support these women in enhancing their entrepreneurial capabilities, enabling them to produce commercial products for income.

Through the NSSE project funded by the European Union (EU), SVSG engaged community women to share their talents in cooking, reviving handicrafts, and printing materials for clothing. The goal is to empower these women to embrace their creativity and develop sustainable sources of income for their families by leveraging their life skills and talents.

SVSG president Siliniu Lina Chang said gender-based violence (GBV) remained a major issue in Samoa, particularly affecting community women and Nofotane. 

She said SVSG was committed to supporting these women to become economically stable within their families, aiming to reduce domestic violence and related family issues that stem from unstable incomes.

On a Tuesday morning, Ma’agiagi community women gathered to discuss and exchange skills, focusing on traditional crafts such as making ‘elei,’ crafting flowers (‘sei’), and cooking pork buns (keke pu’aa). 

"The young Nofotane women expressed their joy in learning from the experienced community women who shared invaluable life skills," said Siliniu.

She expressed her passion for reaching out to empower Nofotane women, encouraging them to utilize their talents to support one another. 

‘’This sharing of life skills aims to create stronger families and communities’’, said Siliniu.

This year SVSG celebrates its 20th anniversary and engagement with Nofotane women in the fight against Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG) remains a continuous commitment in their ongoing work in Samoa.