1. Dictionary Distribution

SAWG distributed dictionaries to 44 High Schools and Colleges in both Upolu and Savaii in November 2009, for the prize of “year 9 best all rounder Female and Male student”.  This is the second year that SAWG has involved young male counterparts in an effort to address the United Nation’s proposed Millennium Goal of “gender equity”. We distributed our dictionaries post tsunami with a message of ‘Hope through education’. As usual, this was well received by the schools and families of the lucky recipients. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Sasae, Niusila, Tuiloma Susana and Adelynn who made their time available to distribute our dictionaries to all the schools. Faafetai tele lava!.

2. Children’s Hospital Library & Playground Project:

In August 2008, a Children’s Library was established at the Pediatric Ward of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital at Motootua (National Hospital).  The aim of this undertaking is to create educational opportunities for young children, women and their families who are disadvantaged due to illness or injuries where some 300 children are missing school every month.  The Library is fully furnished, complete with more than 2000 books and textbooks both in the Samoan and English language, educational games, boxes of toys, videos, DVD’s, etc.  It has a full-time Librarian and opening hours are from 9-5pm, Monday to Friday, and sometimes on Saturday.  SAWG encourages its members and anyone interested to volunteer, pick up a book and read to these kids in their spare time! This project continues to be a success with the young kids and we have had visits from representatives of the EU Micro-project and the Canadian Fund in 2009, to look at the possibility of extending this concept to the Maternity Ward.

Currently we are negotiating funding options from a few of our business partners so that we are able to maintain the library opened and to continue to employ a fulltime librarian. We also encourage our SAWG members to please make the time to visit our library when you are at the hospital and if your kids have books, toys or any material that they no longer use, please contact the executive if you want to donate them to our library.

3. Better living project

In 2009, SAWG put in an application to the Bina Roy Partners In Development (BRPID) competition through IFUW for funding of our Better Living Project. We are happy to report that we were amongst the winners of this competition and funding has been approved for our Scholarship project. Our aim is to provide scholarships at different levels particularly for families who are in financial hardship as their children approach higher levels of education. At this time these students are also employable albeit at a lower income level, their families still see them as potential breadwinners.  During these struggling times, providing an income for the necessities of life understandably takes precedent over the importance of education. The aim of this project therefore is to provide support for those selected students who have great potential but financial situations disable them from completing higher level education.

4. Fundraising and financial supporters

During the year we have also held fundraising lunches and have had the pleasure of inviting people from the diplomatic, business and government sectors to be guest speakers. This also provides an excellent networking tool for our members and it’s another avenue to try and attract more members to our association. SAWG also continues to get financial assistance from our business community in support of our projects. Amongst our speakers during the year were Ms Robin Yeargre, Charge De Affairs of the US Embassy in Samoa and our very own Ms Moana Bentin.

In June 2010, we held a lunch in honour of Her Excellency Caroline Bilkey, Former High Commissioner of New Zealand in Samoa at the Orator Hotel. 80 women turned up to farewell this lovely diplomat whom during her stay in Samoa has touched the lives of many especially during the Tsunami disaster in September 2009. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

In August 2010, we held another lunch at the Wildfire Restaurant with Ms Nina Netzler Vn-Reiche as our keynote speaker. The topic was ‘Stip the Baggage’ which covers 7 secrets to losing weight, how to boost energy and how to skyrocket performance in and out of the office.

5. PGWNET COUNCIL MEETING

Niusila Eteuati and myself were registered for the PGWNET online council meeting for 2009 earlier this year. A lot of discussions were centred around aligning PGWNET’s constitution to that of IFUW. One of the issues that SAWG supported was allowing pacific island nation countries with smaller membership numbers (ie less than 20 members) to register as a group member under PGWNET. This will ensure associations which are just starting out or have less than 20 members to participate in the activities and discussions of PGWNE and IFUW. This is now approved. The chairmanship for PGWNET has moved to NZ and we hope the next one will move to one of the pacific island nation. Next IFUW annual meeting is in Mexico this year and due to limited funds, we are not able to send anyone to this meeting.