Apia-based Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) reflect on their 20 year journey.
For most people, 20 years seems like a long time but at the SVSG headquarters in Apia, it just means there’s no time to rest.
Since 2005, the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) has operated its services to the Samoan community, providing shelter and a safe haven for victims of abuse, especially young children.
Reflecting on that 20 year journey, President Siliniu Lina Chang admits there have been up’s and down’s through it all.
And despite everything that has unfolded over the years, new and unexpected challenges will always be present.
“There is nothing like having a normal day in victim support. You just don’t know what’s going to happen when you walk into the office,” Lina says.
“But if there’s one thing that’s certain, it’s that the Samoa Victim Support Group never backs down to whatever’s presented to them.”
Being able to combat whatever was ahead hasn’t always been easy for Lina and her team. She says in the early days the SVSG met with much criticism.
And yet through it all, she’s stayed faithful and strong in their mission to help those in need.
“We saw the struggles, we saw the challenges and we addressed it, not by talking about it but addressing it in our way.
“We do the work to counter all the negativity that’s coming towards us,” Lina says.
Lina also spoke highly of her staff especially for sticking by her and their mission from the start. One of those people is Tafatoa Sam Fruean who manages the finances for SVSG.
“It’s been 20 years now too since I have been with SVSG. I was with them from the early days of trying to get started and twenty years later, still here,” Sam says.
“I first had jumped on board to help through some friends of mine who were donating and also helping SVSG at the time. For me, I am committed to always helping anyone who comes through our doors seeking help.”
These days, SVSG has come a long way since its small team of less than 10 people.
Now, with a total of 20 workers at their main base and additional staff in their shelters and schools, their dedication to helping victims grows stronger day by day. They play an important role in the community and have become a trusted service.
Collaborations have also been made with various overseas partners and donors who are all looking to help grow the mission that was instilled right from 2005.
But even after 20 years, Lina is ready to move forward to keep driving SVSG into the future.
“Looking back at it now, a lot of tears, a lot of cries and it’s a very lonely road” she says.
“But for 20 years now, how many lives have we saved? How many children have successful stories? How many perpetrators have we held accountable? It’s all about us achieving what we wanted to achieve, and doing the best that we can.”
