Selected adolescents and parents in the Fagalii community in Apia are participating in a community violence against children prevention program in a bid to end the scourge.

The program focuses on social and behaviour change communication modalities and is part of the child protection activities being rolled out in selected communities by the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G.) with funding support from the UNICEF Pacific.

In the Fagalii session, Module 6 of the program wraps up two-years of learning for the parents on "responding with positive discipline". The module for adolescents was based on online safety and protection, specifically cyberbullying. 

Again, the risks to children’s safety posed by their unsupervised navigation on social media is a wake up call for the parents, the S.V.S.G. said in a media statement.

However, Reverend Petaia Leavai of the Congregational Christian Church Samoa at Fagalii said the change will take time.

“Changing mindset takes time, but if there is a will, it will happen through our actions. The alternative parenting learnt from the program not only protects our children, but also safeguard parents.”

A take home message from the community at Fagalii on ending violence against children is to live by the greatest commandment of love. For the parents to love their children, and vice versa, requires the presence of peace and love in every home.

Fagalii community believe this can be achieved through allocating enough time to spend with the children and allowing them to know their parents better and what is in their hearts for them. 

The dialogue amongst the adolescents raised awareness on the seriousness of cyberbullying and a series of social issues that stem from it.  The adolescents were willing to share what they have learnt with their friends and family members, to ensure that they will not fall victim to cyber bullying and or are able to protect themselves should they become victim.

The S.V.S.G. President Siliniu Lina Chang said her non-profit organisation appreciates its ongoing partnership with UNICEF Pacific. 

"S.V.S.G. appreciates the ongoing partnership with UNICEF Pacific, to explore preventive and early interventions which allowed for more holistic child protection programming in Samoa," Siliniu said. 

“For the students in high school who have been bullied, belittled or abused, please call us on the Helpline Number 800-7874 should you need someone to talk to.” 

The community prevention program provides a sustained community dialogue for adolescents and parents from seven targeted communities on life skills development and positive discipline parenting for adolescents and parents, respectively.