The Kindest Cut Container to Samoa
Don protégé
I want to be able to travel to Samoa and visit underprivileged areas where I believe we can make a difference and to impact communities with much needed necessities, emergency relief, food and basic living items.
To provide a beacon of hope for the children at SVSG (Samoa Victim Support Group), as well as gifting the organisation with much needed aid. To help women, men and families in times of hardship and assist in their everyday living.
These are some of the goals I wish to achieve this time around,
• Send a 20ft shipping container to Samoa filled with essential goods, food, medicines, clothing, toiletries a generator and other goods the families and SVSG require.
• Visit the Victims support group SVSG provide much needed necessities and help with daily meals, assist in teaching the Children at the School of Hope basic English, writing and spelling, playing games through craft, music and art, listening to their stories, providing haircuts and however else I can be of assistance to the organisation.
• Implant a need for the future of these children in the hearts of my community and instill a solid education for projects to support a bigger cause within these families and the children of SVSG, I would like to in the future build something on a larger scale that can help them ongoing help themselves with our help.
FOR A FULL LIST OF THE ITEMS WE REQUIRE FOR OUR CONTAINER AND ALL COSTS INVOLVED. PLEASE HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE .
My most recent trip in April 2018 was a great success!
Many thanks to everyone that donated to my go fund me page and The Movement who donated clothing, and items, toiletries, and lovely people who donated baby formula, toiletries, toys, and clothing the companies CPR Hair for donating hair products, money donations from Faith City Canterbury Church, and Motorhead Hair Dzyne, and last but not least my sponsor Bridal beast in NZ thanks so much for making this trip possible.
We took over 5 suitcases full of donations and I was able to purchase items here to take. I bought $400 worth of underwear, tarpolines, toiletries, medicine from Kmart and aldis and Coles for SVSG shelter. I bought whatever I was able to fit in suitcases after I packed all the donations. The rest was bought in Samoa
I was able to buy 115 pairs of shoes for 62 children at SVSG shelter, and children from the villages that visit the shelter daily for schooling and food. I noticed when I arrived at the shelter most of the children had any shoes on, so thankful I was able to get these for them
I was able to gift $1000 of food for SVSG shelter which they went to Ah Liki to purchase because they know what would have been best for the children
Purchase more baby formula, nappies for SVSG shelter
Purchase more toiletries and mosquito coils ( mosquitos are really a problem in Samoa) for the Moataa village and SVSG
We spent a day at Moataa Village, they welcomed us with open arms because they remembered me from my last trip. It was like going back to visit family, seeing all the familiar faces
Me and Uso (who also volunteered) cut all the children's hair and gave them lots of food and toiletries and baby items to share between 7 families there. We danced and laughed with all the children, we had a lot of fun.
I got to meet the beautiful baby girl My Namesake ‘Coralie' who was born in March. Her mum Rubinah was nearly 8 months pregnant when I was there in January and she said she wanted to name her baby girl after me. I was so overwhelmed when she told me that. Holding lil Coralie in my arms was a very special moment.
I got to meet this extraordinary woman of courage who has pioneered child protection in Samoa Lina Chang who runs SVSG shelter and sitting and listening to her about what she does I just couldn’t believe one woman can do so much not only for all of these 62 children that were there but also for all the villages throughout Samoa. Her Nofotane Project she help set up in helping women in the villages be able to have a voice and empower them through helping them make their own income and for Gender Equality is amazing.
• She also has programs in place to help get the street vendor children off the streets, over time for good, by showing them how to make arts and crafts at The campus that they are able to sell for them and give all the money back to their families. Child labour is happening over there because it's so hard for the parents to get any work so they are forced to send their young children out on the streets sometimes till all hours of the night to sell all sorts of things to be able to get money to buy food and basic necessities.
• Lina Chang has a massive heart for all of these children and all the less fortunate in Samoa, she just says to me when I ask her why she does all of this that she's being obedient to God. She's a very humble and compassionate lady. I want to help her help the children and the families because I know even if you have one child it cost also of money but she has 62 children at present at the shelter alone and then the families she helps as well throughout Samoa.
• SVSG is not government funded she runs her shelter based on donations kindly given by individuals or organisations. There has been many times she's had to pay out of her own pocket for food etc
• Another thing I noticed was how clean and organized the whole campus was, Lina has a great system in running the shelter so well. The children are taught to look after their campus and respect everything they have there also the children were so well behaved. I'm thinking i've been to homes where there might be only 3 children and it can be a crazy house but all 62 children had beautiful manners, listened, and spoke beautifully to me and one another. All the children spoke so highly and of so much love for their ‘Mama Lina’ they can't thank her enough for what she has done for them and it shows to me how important this shelter is for each and every one of these children and for Samoa to have somewhere safe for these children to come to and to also have Lina be the Voice for them in putting their perpetrator in Jail. Lina shared with me that they have never lost a case against every person that has harmed/sexually abused these children. She is just amazing I really don’t know what else to say but how thankful I am to have someone like her there for all of these children and the families there.
We spent a whole day cutting all the children's hair with the help of two other amazing volunteers Uso and Paul that live in Samoa. I'm so thankful for their help because we were able to cut all the children hair that day. I showed them and assisted in removing head lice,and bought products to be able to get rid of them. The next day Lina told us the children loved their new haircuts they felt pretty and spending that one on one time with them meant a lot.
We played games with the children, danced and sang with them, gave out lots of snacks and prizes when we did games with them. Another fun thing I loved doing was learning how to speak Samoan. This was a challenge for me especially as the children sang lots of songs and tried to teach me! We had many great laughs together about my pronunciation. The children were very proud of me for trying, im hoping when I go back in November I can surprise them and speak a whole sentence in Samoan.
They asked me what its like living in Australia, I shared with them pictures that were on my phone and shared many stories. We would talk about lots of different topics, they would share about their life, family, or what they want to do when they get older. There were lots of laughs, we all had a great time together.
Spending time with the children was an amazing experience that i'll always cherish. I thought by me going there I want to give them as much love as possible especially because of the traumatic events that have happened in every child at the shelter. I walked away each and everyday I spent with them full of all the love they gave to me. They loved giving kisses and hugs as much as I loved it. I made a special friendship with all of the children and can not wait to see them again in November. I want to take back lots of Arts and crafts to make things with them, and also candle supplies so we can make candles together, that would be something I know they would love. I want to also take back some educational materials, books, pencils etc to help assist in their learning at Their School they have on Campus to help them to learn.
We got to spend a day with the babies at the House of Blessings, which is at The SVSG Campus. I was so thankful to be able to help change nappies, and feed the babies and kiss and cuddle and play them and help put them to sleep.
Lina also took to me 7 villages/homes that were experiencing hardship, we met so many people, everyone we went to give food welcome us and showed us their humble homes that they lived in. One home we went to had a wooden floor and the walls were of Tarpolines and a roof and the front part of their home was completely open, no door to close and keep them safe from the rain etc. A family of four stayed in there, they all slept on the floor and they were so grateful to have a roof over their head. I saw 2 suitcases and a plastic container of clothing which looked like all their belongings. Their daughter was fast asleep on the floor when we arrived. They had an area where they cooked their food outside on rocks and an outdoor toilet This made me want to bring a container next trip so that I can bring much needed beds and basic kitchen utensil, bedding, more tarpolines, and mosquito netting for their homes. Most of the homes didn’t have any furniture, they were very basic living. Some families from the villages had told me they have no income to provide for their families other than selling their produce from their plantation which can be tough because they make about $30 per week, that they either sell outside their home or if they can get to the markets they would sell there this low income makes it very hard to even live on if they need to buy food like drinking water, rice, flour, toiletries etc. There’s just not enough work available unfortunately. A lot of them if they are fortunate to have a job would be on an income of $2 per hour which makes the cost of living for most in Samoa is really expensive.
Each time going to Samoa and having the opportunity to make a difference in each and everyone’s lives there was a massive and humbling experience for me. I’m so thankful to God for putting it in my heart to Go on this mission and my future missions to make a difference and leading and guiding the way and putting it in the hearts of everyone who contributed and help make this recent trip a success I’m so thankful. I feel that I can’t just live my life here in Sydney comfortably knowing that there are so many children, struggling families who don’t have the opportunity like we do to have a job to be able to provide for their families. This experience has given me a different outlook on life, to be so grateful for everything I have, even the little things like jumping into my bed at night, the clothes to keep me warm, having a toilet and shower in my home, having clean drinking water. Things we all can easily take for granted. To show me how I can make a difference and impact so many people/children by sharing time with them showing them love and being able to give them much needed necessities makes my life definitely worthwhile and full of purpose. Even though they have so little they all seem so happy in their own way.
To provide a beacon of hope for the children at SVSG (Samoa Victim Support Group), as well as gifting the organisation with much needed aid. To help women, men and families in times of hardship and assist in their everyday living.
These are some of the goals I wish to achieve this time around,
• Send a 20ft shipping container to Samoa filled with essential goods, food, medicines, clothing, toiletries a generator and other goods the families and SVSG require.
• Visit the Victims support group SVSG provide much needed necessities and help with daily meals, assist in teaching the Children at the School of Hope basic English, writing and spelling, playing games through craft, music and art, listening to their stories, providing haircuts and however else I can be of assistance to the organisation.
• Implant a need for the future of these children in the hearts of my community and instill a solid education for projects to support a bigger cause within these families and the children of SVSG, I would like to in the future build something on a larger scale that can help them ongoing help themselves with our help.
FOR A FULL LIST OF THE ITEMS WE REQUIRE FOR OUR CONTAINER AND ALL COSTS INVOLVED. PLEASE HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE .
My most recent trip in April 2018 was a great success!
Many thanks to everyone that donated to my go fund me page and The Movement who donated clothing, and items, toiletries, and lovely people who donated baby formula, toiletries, toys, and clothing the companies CPR Hair for donating hair products, money donations from Faith City Canterbury Church, and Motorhead Hair Dzyne, and last but not least my sponsor Bridal beast in NZ thanks so much for making this trip possible.
We took over 5 suitcases full of donations and I was able to purchase items here to take. I bought $400 worth of underwear, tarpolines, toiletries, medicine from Kmart and aldis and Coles for SVSG shelter. I bought whatever I was able to fit in suitcases after I packed all the donations. The rest was bought in Samoa
I was able to buy 115 pairs of shoes for 62 children at SVSG shelter, and children from the villages that visit the shelter daily for schooling and food. I noticed when I arrived at the shelter most of the children had any shoes on, so thankful I was able to get these for them
I was able to gift $1000 of food for SVSG shelter which they went to Ah Liki to purchase because they know what would have been best for the children
Purchase more baby formula, nappies for SVSG shelter
Purchase more toiletries and mosquito coils ( mosquitos are really a problem in Samoa) for the Moataa village and SVSG
We spent a day at Moataa Village, they welcomed us with open arms because they remembered me from my last trip. It was like going back to visit family, seeing all the familiar faces
Me and Uso (who also volunteered) cut all the children's hair and gave them lots of food and toiletries and baby items to share between 7 families there. We danced and laughed with all the children, we had a lot of fun.
I got to meet the beautiful baby girl My Namesake ‘Coralie' who was born in March. Her mum Rubinah was nearly 8 months pregnant when I was there in January and she said she wanted to name her baby girl after me. I was so overwhelmed when she told me that. Holding lil Coralie in my arms was a very special moment.
I got to meet this extraordinary woman of courage who has pioneered child protection in Samoa Lina Chang who runs SVSG shelter and sitting and listening to her about what she does I just couldn’t believe one woman can do so much not only for all of these 62 children that were there but also for all the villages throughout Samoa. Her Nofotane Project she help set up in helping women in the villages be able to have a voice and empower them through helping them make their own income and for Gender Equality is amazing.
• She also has programs in place to help get the street vendor children off the streets, over time for good, by showing them how to make arts and crafts at The campus that they are able to sell for them and give all the money back to their families. Child labour is happening over there because it's so hard for the parents to get any work so they are forced to send their young children out on the streets sometimes till all hours of the night to sell all sorts of things to be able to get money to buy food and basic necessities.
• Lina Chang has a massive heart for all of these children and all the less fortunate in Samoa, she just says to me when I ask her why she does all of this that she's being obedient to God. She's a very humble and compassionate lady. I want to help her help the children and the families because I know even if you have one child it cost also of money but she has 62 children at present at the shelter alone and then the families she helps as well throughout Samoa.
• SVSG is not government funded she runs her shelter based on donations kindly given by individuals or organisations. There has been many times she's had to pay out of her own pocket for food etc
• Another thing I noticed was how clean and organized the whole campus was, Lina has a great system in running the shelter so well. The children are taught to look after their campus and respect everything they have there also the children were so well behaved. I'm thinking i've been to homes where there might be only 3 children and it can be a crazy house but all 62 children had beautiful manners, listened, and spoke beautifully to me and one another. All the children spoke so highly and of so much love for their ‘Mama Lina’ they can't thank her enough for what she has done for them and it shows to me how important this shelter is for each and every one of these children and for Samoa to have somewhere safe for these children to come to and to also have Lina be the Voice for them in putting their perpetrator in Jail. Lina shared with me that they have never lost a case against every person that has harmed/sexually abused these children. She is just amazing I really don’t know what else to say but how thankful I am to have someone like her there for all of these children and the families there.
We spent a whole day cutting all the children's hair with the help of two other amazing volunteers Uso and Paul that live in Samoa. I'm so thankful for their help because we were able to cut all the children hair that day. I showed them and assisted in removing head lice,and bought products to be able to get rid of them. The next day Lina told us the children loved their new haircuts they felt pretty and spending that one on one time with them meant a lot.
We played games with the children, danced and sang with them, gave out lots of snacks and prizes when we did games with them. Another fun thing I loved doing was learning how to speak Samoan. This was a challenge for me especially as the children sang lots of songs and tried to teach me! We had many great laughs together about my pronunciation. The children were very proud of me for trying, im hoping when I go back in November I can surprise them and speak a whole sentence in Samoan.
They asked me what its like living in Australia, I shared with them pictures that were on my phone and shared many stories. We would talk about lots of different topics, they would share about their life, family, or what they want to do when they get older. There were lots of laughs, we all had a great time together.
Spending time with the children was an amazing experience that i'll always cherish. I thought by me going there I want to give them as much love as possible especially because of the traumatic events that have happened in every child at the shelter. I walked away each and everyday I spent with them full of all the love they gave to me. They loved giving kisses and hugs as much as I loved it. I made a special friendship with all of the children and can not wait to see them again in November. I want to take back lots of Arts and crafts to make things with them, and also candle supplies so we can make candles together, that would be something I know they would love. I want to also take back some educational materials, books, pencils etc to help assist in their learning at Their School they have on Campus to help them to learn.
We got to spend a day with the babies at the House of Blessings, which is at The SVSG Campus. I was so thankful to be able to help change nappies, and feed the babies and kiss and cuddle and play them and help put them to sleep.
Lina also took to me 7 villages/homes that were experiencing hardship, we met so many people, everyone we went to give food welcome us and showed us their humble homes that they lived in. One home we went to had a wooden floor and the walls were of Tarpolines and a roof and the front part of their home was completely open, no door to close and keep them safe from the rain etc. A family of four stayed in there, they all slept on the floor and they were so grateful to have a roof over their head. I saw 2 suitcases and a plastic container of clothing which looked like all their belongings. Their daughter was fast asleep on the floor when we arrived. They had an area where they cooked their food outside on rocks and an outdoor toilet This made me want to bring a container next trip so that I can bring much needed beds and basic kitchen utensil, bedding, more tarpolines, and mosquito netting for their homes. Most of the homes didn’t have any furniture, they were very basic living. Some families from the villages had told me they have no income to provide for their families other than selling their produce from their plantation which can be tough because they make about $30 per week, that they either sell outside their home or if they can get to the markets they would sell there this low income makes it very hard to even live on if they need to buy food like drinking water, rice, flour, toiletries etc. There’s just not enough work available unfortunately. A lot of them if they are fortunate to have a job would be on an income of $2 per hour which makes the cost of living for most in Samoa is really expensive.
Each time going to Samoa and having the opportunity to make a difference in each and everyone’s lives there was a massive and humbling experience for me. I’m so thankful to God for putting it in my heart to Go on this mission and my future missions to make a difference and leading and guiding the way and putting it in the hearts of everyone who contributed and help make this recent trip a success I’m so thankful. I feel that I can’t just live my life here in Sydney comfortably knowing that there are so many children, struggling families who don’t have the opportunity like we do to have a job to be able to provide for their families. This experience has given me a different outlook on life, to be so grateful for everything I have, even the little things like jumping into my bed at night, the clothes to keep me warm, having a toilet and shower in my home, having clean drinking water. Things we all can easily take for granted. To show me how I can make a difference and impact so many people/children by sharing time with them showing them love and being able to give them much needed necessities makes my life definitely worthwhile and full of purpose. Even though they have so little they all seem so happy in their own way.
Organisateur
Coralie Allen
Organisateur
Haymarket NSW
