With a couple of days before Christmas, Samoa Victim Support Group is preparing its Response Team to ensure that support is available to our community during this holiday when needed.
And with this preparation work comes a Christmas reminder from the SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang to our community. “When it all feels too much, remember, you are not alone. SVSG’s Help is just a phone call away at 800-7874; it is free and it works 24 hours a day.”
The reminder from the SVSG President came at a time when SVSG and its village representatives joined a grieving family further inland at Toamua today when they laid to rest a 13-year-old child who was a victim of an alleged discipline that went wrong.
As a child protection agency and a support service provider for gender-based violence, SVSG has been working with the family since the incident happened.
The remoteness of the family from the rest of the village was noticeable, as awareness on primary prevention to end violence against children is lacking; on the basic hygiene to support the health and wellbeing of growing families; and on economic empowerment of Nofotane women residing in this area, were amongst the challenges identified during SVSG’s assessment of the family’s situation.
Today, SVSG’s reminder is timely as we head into the Christmas season. A season we associate with celebration, laughter and joy for the greatest gift of the Mesiah, born into this world. A season also where the number of gender base violence incidents reported to SVSG increases.
“Remember to call SVSG’s Helpline number 800-7874 when all feels too much. We are here to help you.” SVSG President
