Southern Samoan Youth group provide HOPE to family harm survivors

Giving thanks to the Lord for His protection over their group, which designed and created this video for the Pasefika Proud Malie Young People Aotearoa Project, 16 local Dunedin students expressed their stories of stress and family harm as motivation to turn their lives around and succeed in life.

The project details ways they seek support when times are challenging, they’re feeling down and, in particular, how to give HOPE to others.

“Our participating youth enjoyed partnering with each other to develop this beautiful video which represents them and highlights their strengths and values,” says Community Development Coordinator Elsie Taimalieutu- Freeman, who worked closely with them on the project.

“They want everyone to understand that through alofa (love), fellowship, fun, laughter and sharing throughout the year, they were able to create this video.

“Their relationships and friendships have strengthened, attitudes and behaviours have changed and they are more aware of sharing and giving LOVE.”

Elsie and the group thank their supporters and those involved in the making of the video, especially parents whose support has been unconditional and the guidance and advice, exceptional.

Their motto S.A.V.E. stands for Students Against Violence Encounters.

If you would like to know more about the making of the video, read about the creative process the students went through here.

Pasefika Proud is a Pacific response to focus on community-led solutions that harnesses the transformative power of traditional Pacific cultural values and frameworks to encourage violence-free, respectful relationships that support Pacific peoples to thrive and to build strong resilient families. Pasefika Proud would like to thank Presbyterian Support Otago for their assistance with the making of this video and Elsie Taimalieutu-Freeman, who provided the key leadership with the young Samoan students.  Because it’s Our Families, Our People, Our Responsibility.