Miss Samoa Moemoana Safa’ato’a Schwenke is setting a great example of leadership by sharing her knowledge of traditional Samoan dances, the siva afi and siva Samoa, with the younger generation. Through her leadership in the Ta Fesilafa’i Arts and Creative Initiative, she is passing on the skills her parents taught her to young girls and boys.
Moemoana, who hails from Asau Savai’i, is not only teaching dance but also sharing the cultural dance of the Asau Anthem “Gata Ula.” Speaking to the Savali Newspaper, she expresses how the Miss Samoa platform has empowered her to influence young women and girls positively. She believes that every girl involved in this initiative has the power to make a difference.
Emphasizing the importance of service, Moemoana encourages participants to see their actions within their families, villages, and country as a way of fulfilling their purpose and doing meaningful work. Despite the focus on dance classes, she highlights that it also contributes to building character and instilling a sense of empowerment in the participants, showing them that they can achieve their dreams.
The overwhelming response to the first class, with the Tu’utu’uleloloto Hall filled to capacity, has been a pleasant surprise for Moemoana. She appreciates the support of families invested in their children’s growth and hopes to expand the initiative, passing the platform on to the people of Samoa after her reign as Miss Samoa.
Moemoana acknowledges her father, Co-Director of the Matavai Frederick Schwenke, who has been by her side throughout the journey. Her father, who taught her Siva afi when she was 14, played a significant role in her life and continues to inspire her.
With six more lessons to go, Moemoana plans to further develop the initiative after her participation in the Miss Pacific Islands pageant in Nauru in early 2024. She expresses gratitude to Samoa, the children, families, elders, and sponsors for trusting the Ta Fesilafa’i team to teach the children and hopes to be a positive influence in their lives.
