As the newly sworn-in Ambassador for Children’s Rights for the Samoa Victim Support Group, I am humbled to be the voice of the abused and vulnerable children, under the shelter care of the Organization, to wish all the mothers here in New Zealand, in Samoa, and wherever you are tuning in from: A blessed and safer Mother’s Day today.
This week, I was sworn in as the inaugural Ambassador for Children’s Rights. A ceremony that was validated when I visited the children of hope, cared for at the Campus of Hope shelter facility.
Some of these children are girls who, unfortunately, have become young mothers themselves; not by choice, but because of the sexual abuse they have suffered within their own homes. I salute you as brave heroes on this Mother’s Day.
Similarly, I’ve seen women volunteering at the Campus of Hope as carers and as families to the children; loving and caring for the children as their own. Thank you for your motherly love.
I’ve bought beautiful handicrafts from nofotane women survivors of violence, who have been socially and economically empowered by the SVSG Nofotane Program.
Then there are grandparents, aunties, and uncles who have taken up the responsibility as caretaker mothers for us and our children. Fa’afetai le alolofa.
How about the male figures who have taken up mother-figure roles in their families as single parents or as siblings who have lost their mothers? You are nurturing our future leaders and as such, I applaud you for your courage.
On this special day, let us celebrate the love, appreciation, and gratitude we have for our mothers and mother figures.
For our beloved mothers who have been called to rest, we honor your memory. Your legacies continue to shine brightly in our hearts.
“Wishing all our mothers a blessed Mother’s Day celebration today and every day.” Toleafoa Father Leatuao Larry Tupai-Lavea, SVSG’s Ambassador for Children’s Rights.
I le gagana Samoa
PEPA O FA’AMATALAGA: ASO FA’APITOA MO TINA 2024
AMEPASA MO LE FANAU
I le ava ma le fa’aaloalo tele, e avea ai a’u o le Amepasa mo le Fanau, e fa’aleoina ai moomooga alofa ma fa’amanuiaga a le fanau o le fa’amoemoega (children of hope) o lo’o tausia e le Toomaga mo e Puapuagatia, mo tina uma: Ia maua se Aso Tinā manuia ma le saogalemu.
O le vaiaso nei, na fa’ataunuuina ai le fa’atautooina aloai o a’u e fai ma fofoga o le fanau sauaina, fanau tu’ulafoaina, fanau le amanaiaina e ala i le tofiga a le Toomaga mo e Puapuagatia, o se Amepasa mo le Fanau. O lenei fa’atautoga, na fa’amausaliina, i la’u asiasiga i le fanau o tausia e le Toomaga i fale apitaga.
O nisi o nei fanau, o fanau teine, ua faoa o latou tamaliiaga, ma avea ai ma tinā laiti, ona o sauaga mataga na aafia ai i latou. O i latou o ni toa i lenei Aso o Tinā.
Ua ou vaai foi i tina o galulue ofofuaina le soifua i fale apitaga, aua le tausiga o le fanau ma le alofa, e pei lava ona latou tausia a latou fanau. Fa’afetai mo le alofa i fanau sauaina.
Na fa’atau foi ni a’u meataulima mai le Faleoloa o Tinā Nofotane, o i latou nei o ni tinā ua manumalo mai sauaga na a’afia ai, ma ua fa’atamaoaigaina i latou, aua le atinaeina o aiga.
Ae a nai o tatou matua ma matua o matua, o uso o tama, po’o uso o tina, o i latou e nafa ma le vaaiga o le fanau, e pei ona faia e o tatou tinā. Fa’afetai le alolofa.
E fa’afetaia foi le tiute fai a nai o tatou tamā o faatinoina nafa tauaave a o tatou tinā i le tausiga o le fanau ma le aiga. Malo le loto tetele, e le faigofie le faatinoina o matafaioi fa’aletinā.
Tatou patipatia laia le alofa mafanafana a nai o tatou tinā.
Mo nai o tatou tinā ua fai i lagi le folauga, e manatua pea i latou i loto ma agaga. O a latou talatuu, e ola pea lea i galuega tautua o tatou fa’atinoina.
“Ia faamanuia le Atua ia te outou tinā. Ia manuia lo outou aso fa’ailogaina.” Toleafoa Father Leatuao Larry Tupai-Lavea, Amepasa mo le Fanau.
