A number of families in Samoa will receive seedlings, tools and training under a project funded by the government of Australia through.

A consultation was held at the National Council of Churches conference room facilitated by Adventist Development Relief Agency (A.D.R.A.) Samoa on Friday. The consultation was to discuss the project with families who have shown interest and registered. 

The funding was the Australian government was divided between two humanitarian organisations, CARE and CAN DO ( Church Agencies Network—Disaster Operation).

 A.D.R.A. Samoa’s Director, Su’a Julia Wallwork told the Samoa Observer in an interview that C.A.R.E. chose to partner with W.I.B.D.I. and N.O.L.A. while CAN DO chose Caritas and A.D.R.A.

"The grant was given to help Samoa," Su'a said. "It was a COVID-19 focus program and the total funding was $500,000 AUD, and that was divided into two to CARE and CAN DO which are big humanitarian organisations.

A.D.R.A. is the lead agency who will deliver livelihoods, a safe motherhood component and a media campaign to focus on COVID-19.

The livelihood component promotes good health, nutritious food through vegetable gardens and also any surplus can be sold for income-generating to lift the economy of families to another level.

The project will develop resilience and families being able to withstand or reduce the risks of getting affected by the pandemic.

The involvement of the National Council of Churches will contribute to reaching out to more families. It moves to encourage people to work together, no matter what their faith or religious belief is.

"For the livelihoods, part of that component, we have decided to work with the council of churches so that help can be extended and be spread even further working through the various churches and their memberships," Su'a added

N.C.C. has been given the role to make their selection of families who can be eligible. Every faith has been allocated and from those faiths, they will bring their own people to register for the project. Those registered under the project will receive seedlings, tools, training in horticulture, training in nutrition and training in financial literacy so that they are able to save and learn to budget better. 

"People registered today so they would be qualified for the training because we just can’t leave it at random. We got to start with selected families, and they’re the ones who’ve shown the interest to come," Su'a added

"They’re going to be brought in for training and we are going to monitor and check on them all the time."

This is a continuation of the work ADRA has been doing as they also have other projects funded by different donors. 

"We’ve worked to try and help our people have a better understanding and a better appreciation of what they cook and plant in their back yard," Su'a said 

"The effect on their health because Samoa has one of the highest rates of non-communicable diseases so we hope that through our programs, it will help reduce the risks and make them resilient in times of disaster."