In every Government-funded project, there’s a crucial phase of monitoring and evaluation, especially within the community prevention program where villages & community are involved. In 2022, SVSG with Government’s financial assistance towards ending violence against women and girls initiated the “Men & Boys Against Violence” Campaign. The initiative engages seven village councils along with their communities in a collaborative effort to craft village-specific guidelines aimed at combating violence against women and girls.
Among the targeted communities were Matautu Falealili, Saleapaga, Lalomauga, Fusi Safata, Vailuutai, Vaipu’a, and Avao Savaii. Through community engagement programs, SVSG empowered these villages to endorse a violence-free environment, urging village leaders to take charge of fostering safety and proclaim their commitment to non-violence.
The project witnessed enthusiastic participation from all seven villages, with leaders actively contributing to the formulation of guidelines for community adherence. Now, two years later, SVSG has convened an Assessment Forum, bringing together the participating villages once more.
Two years later, representatives from the seven villages gathered this week to assess and evaluate the impacts of the project within their own villages. Alongside village councils, men, women, and youth were also represented, giving their views on how the project had contributed to reducing violence against women and girls within their homes and families.
Li’o Seulu, a pulenu’u or village mayor from Vailu’utai, acknowledged the positive influence of the project, noting that it has motivated men and boys in Vailu’utai to try and abide by the guidelines implemented. However, he also highlights a poignant reality: “Some of the men that were part of the project and helped write the guidelines ended up in trouble with the same guidelines that they invented,” Seulu concluded.
During the assessment forum, the faipules voiced apprehensions regarding the safety of their village members residing in other villages not included in the program. They expressed concerns that these individuals might face abuse, given that these villages do not adhere to the EVAWG guidelines established by their own communities. The faipules urged SVSG to consider expanding the project to additional villages to ensure the safety of their own people when they migrate elsewhere.
According to President Siliniu Lina Chang, “It is comforting to witness the sustained commitment of village leaders and men in upholding and strengthening the community projects even after their completion. This level of dedication not only reinforces the impact of the projects within the community but also aids in our collective efforts to eliminate violence against women and girls.”
The assessment forum provides SVSG with an opportunity to gather data and feedback from the village participants, enabling the team to evaluate the program’s achievements and pinpoint areas for improvement. “We commend the villages for their participation in these assessments; their feedback is invaluable in ensuring that the right tactics and delivery methods effectively convey the messages we strive to communicate,” Siliniu concludes.
The team will participate in another Forum Assessment involving the six colleges that were part of the same project in the coming days.