The village of Matautu was alive with activity as youth groups gathered for the launch of the “Our Future is Now” initiative, a collaboration between the Samoa Recycling Waste Management Association (SRWMA) and ten youth groups. The initiative aims to empower young people to take the lead in waste management and environmental sustainability.
Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster, Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Lands, highlighted the significance of the partnership, emphasising that the youth must take action now rather than wait for the future. He acknowledged the challenges Samoa faces as a small Pacific nation, including limited recycling markets, high export costs for recyclable materials, and the influx of non-biodegradable waste.
Despite these difficulties, the minister stressed that solutions could be found through partnerships, community involvement, and youth leadership. He stated that equipping young people with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage waste responsibly would contribute to building resilient and sustainable communities.
A key moment of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SRWMA and the participating youth groups. This agreement formalised their commitment to tackling waste management issues and was supported by a $100,000 tala funding contribution from the European Union. Each youth group received $10,000 tala to support their projects.
With this funding, youth leaders began planning initiatives such as community clean-ups, recycling workshops, and awareness campaigns. Their objective is to foster a circular economy where waste is viewed as a resource rather than a problem.
Hon. Schuster reminded attendees that waste management is a shared responsibility and cannot rely solely on government and donor support. He urged everyone to take ownership of their waste and contribute to a more sustainable Samoa.
As the event concluded, the minister encouraged the youth to embrace their roles as environmental leaders and changemakers. He emphasised that their commitment would not only address immediate waste concerns but also lay the foundation for a cleaner and more sustainable future.
The event left young participants inspired and determined to drive meaningful change, demonstrating that the path to sustainability begins with action today.
Lauga i le Gagana Samoa
Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Pose Salesa Schuster
Minister for Natural Resources, Environment and Lands
E faapopo a oni aso ua, ao aso folau foi ua le tuua.
- Lau Susuga i le Faafeagaiga
- Peresetene o le SRWMA
- EU Representative
- Members of the Diplomatic Corps
- Mamalu ma le paia o le au valaaulia
Ua mapu i le malae o le toto’a, le ua faalanu ma’aveave i le upu soifua e fai ma lā’ei o lenei taeao matagofie, i le alofa faaauau pea o lo tatou Tapa’au sili i le lagi. Ta’oto fa’ala’au mamafa, o le a le toe faaluaina. Malo faafetai.
E lei alafua lo’u tu atu, va atu le pa’ia ma le mamalu ua e’e ma pāpā’a’ao i lenei taeao matagofie.
Ua malu lalotao, i le afifio mai o lo tatou Mālō, i ona mamalu faalagia. Ua atoa foi faga i laua, auā le paia ma le mamalu o Samoa ua atoa usu. Mālō le asa. Mālō le onosa’i.
E’e mai la, i le matāvao, o Aliiseu, ae sei tuli’autasi le atu a le sa’u, i le mafuaaga o lo tatou va’a e tasi, e fai ma molimau.
O le taeao o le fagufagu a le Matuamoepō mo tatou uma. E afua mai i tula o le atupu’e, seia o’o lava ia tatou fanau.
Ia o tatou lili’a i le to ma le pisaga, i le soona lafoia o lapisi, ma le fa’aotaota, e aunoa ma le manatu mamafa i ai. E amata mai lava i lo tatou lotoifale i aiga, nuu ma alalafaga, e oo mai lava i nofoaga faitele.
Ua maua fofō o isi faamai, ae ole gasegase lenei o le faalapisi, o le tulāmā’i, o tatou uma.
O le auga foi lena o lenei polokalame ua amatalia e le faalapotopotoga o le SRWMA ma vaega autalavou e sefulu lea ua tatou molimauina i lenei taeao lo latou auaufaatasi i se maliega, e faatino ai poloketi e faaitiitia ai le faalapisi ma faalauiloa ona aafiaga i le siosiomaga. Faafetai i le tofa silasilamamao, sei toe lalaga paga, ma toe sa’a le fafao, auā Samoa mo a taeao.
O se vaai mamao ma se faataua lelei, ona e pei o le upu, “a’oa’i le tama e tusa ma ona ala, a matua e le toe te’a ese ai”. O le lelei tapena o le fanua laiti e taofi le lafoa’i o otaota i nofoaga faitele, afioaga faapea totonu o aiga, aemaise o le faamasani e vaevae ituaiga lapisi i vaega e mafai ona faapala ma vaega e ao ona tuuina atu i nofoaga o lafoai ai otaota faapei o Tafaigata ma Vaiaata. O se faamalosiau foi lea i totonu o aiga, ma nuu mo le faamatagofieina o Samoa, ma faaitiitia aafiaga o le siosiomaga ma le soifua maloloina.
Momoli foi la le faafetai i Malo ‘au faatasi a Europa mo le latou lagolagoina o lenei faamoemoe i le itu tau seleni faapea faalapotopotoga uma o loo faipaaga ma galulue ma le SRWMA.
Ia agalelei le Atua o mea uma ma na musuia tatou uma, ia ulimasao ai lenei faamoemoe tāua.
