Tulaele village has moved to protect and preserve their environment by erecting signs on the roadside for rubbish to be thrown into traditionally hand-woven baskets made from coconut leaves. 

The village recently participated in the Village Beautification Competition run by the Samoa Tourism Authority (STA) and agreed to make a concerted effort to encourage and promote a cleaner Samoa and a healthier environment for all citizens. 

Tulaele is one of the many villages that are a part of the STA-run competition.

The Women's Committee in the village took the necessary steps to beautify their area with the full support of the village community. 

Driving through Tulaele village, motorists will be able to see erected signs on the roadside encouraging the public not to litter and to place your rubbish in the coconut baskets provided. 

The initiative was the brainchild of the Women's Committee, which then set out to look for sponsors to support them make it a village-wide project. They were able to received sponsorship from Bluebird Construction which donated $1,000 worth of white paint together with Garden View Landscaping Ltd which donated $940 worth of white paint.

The village also used recycled material such as timber offcuts to make the signposts as they believe that recycling and re-using will contribute to maintaining a green environment.

The village youth, working alongside Garden View Landscaping Ltd employees, were in charge of weaving coconut baskets to be used for the rubbish. The youth concluded that a lot of the rubbish found on the sides of the road was from school children who discarded their rubbish wrappers while on their way home. This led to the signs and the coconut-leaves rubbish baskets placed alongside the road. 

In an interview with the village representative (Sui o le Malo), Peseta Leiataua Elisaia, he said he is happy with the collaboration as well as support and sponsorship for a project spearheaded by the village's Women's Committee. 

"I am really thankful that the village is working together with this initiative. I'm happy that everyone is rising to the occasion, especially with the effort put in by our women's committee."