A group of Anglican educators have arrived in Samoa and are planning their next phase of assistance for the All Saints Anglican Church School at Malifa. 

C.E.O of the Australian-based Anglican Schools Commission (A.S.C.), Reverend Peter Laurence, told the Samoa Observer that they are here to strengthen partnerships with the school and also to enhance networks in Samoa.

"We have been helping the All Saints Anglican Church School and were not able to come to Samoa due to COVID," he said. "This is our first time back and the purpose of the trip is basically to strengthen partnerships and also enhance our networking with the school."

Rev. Laurence also made mention of young teenagers from Australia being volunteers at the local Anglican school at Malifa. 

"We have been sending young students between the ages of 15 and 16 to Samoa for a two-week period, where they can learn Samoan language and culture as part of a cross-cultural experience," he said. 

"In the meantime they also get to help out at the school so they learn siva Samoa, basic greetings, and so forth. 

"We also take them to Lalomanu for two nights so they can enjoy the natural beauty of the islands, and experience the beach fales hospitality."

But the cross-cultural experience and the volunteer work for the teen students is not the only focus for the visitors, according to Rev. Laurence.

"Not only do we want to help the Anglican school here, we want to promote the idea that the world is a better place when we get to know each other better," he added.

A school principal traveling with the group, Nick Jones pointed out that the A.S.C. is planning on bringing teachers to help their colleagues at the Anglican school. 

"We hope to bring teachers annually to help the school teachers, and we are also planning on providing trainings to upgrade the teachers," he said. 

The A.S.C. Samoa Service Learning Coordinator, Reverend Clarence, said that the organisation has also through their cross-cultural programs done discussion sessions on climate change and resilience. 

"We also included talks about climate change and resilience measures. Some of the places we included in the last trip to Samoa with the young students included the Culture Center at the S.T.A office premises, the Ocean Trenches and the Museum of Robert Louis Stevenson," he said. 

"The students really enjoy their trip to Samoa. We are also planning to bring students and teachers from Samoa to Australia to experience our life there."

Asked when the next trip is planned for the young students' group, Rev. Laurence said the tentative date of travel to Samoa is June 2023.