Nofotane Responds to Families Economic Struggle

Nofotane women selling vegetables and other products at their village market.

By Lagi Keresoma

APIA, SAMOA – 15 MARCH 2021: The economic impact of COVID-19 on Samoa is taking a toll on the most vulnerable families in the country.

Lost jobs and little or no income avenues forced families to do what they can to put food on the table.

One such avenue is the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) Nofotane programme that provides empowerment for women to get into cottage based ventures to help their families.

Since the Covid-19 State of Emergency lock down, several Nofotane groups have set up their own market stalls in the villages while some are utilizing the open space in-front of the SVSG headquarters in Apia to sell ornamental plants, handicrafts, agricultural products and food.

A mother who is part of the programme said the Nofotane programme has provided a survival avenue for her family since her husband was laid-off work.

She said her family struggled to make ends meet and the concern was the welfare of her children, but being part of the Nofotane group has made things easier for her family to have a market to sell her cocoa and vegetables and people also place orders and she delivers.

Her husband works on their small vegetable plot and she makes handicrafts and prepares vaisalo and faausi for sale.

Per day, she collects at least $150 talā compared to waiting for her husband’s pay at the end of the week.

The Nofotane market at Toamua village.

A member of the Toamua village Nofotane group commends the programme which not only gives the women a chance to showcase their creative skills but financial support for their families.

The group has a permanent stall at one their member’s house where all products are sold and the money goes back to support their families.

Various groups selling food in Apia are also contributing for their families’ upkeep.

SVSG’s President Siliniu Lina Chang and her team are proud of the Nofotane programmes success.

“Even in these uncertain times seeing the confident smiles of our Nofotane women encourages us to support them further,” she said at the opening of the Siumu Nofotane market.

The program which was launched in August 2016 was to improve the economic empowerment of women and increase their participation in domestic and community matters.

Nofotane was the first programme in Samoa and the Pacific to be selected from 1400 applicants from around the world to be funded by the UN Women Fund for Gender Equality for 3 years.

Siliniu and her team knew the importance of the program so decided to fundraise and ask for support from their donor partners hence the continuation of the program to date.

Nofotane is the Samoan name given to a woman residing at their husbands family and is often considered to serve her family and village.

Siliniu said that the programme was not easily supported by the community because of its name, however as the programme progressed, so did the change in mindset of many and the programme has proven to be a success.

And with the social and economic impacts of COVID-19, the Nofotane programme has proven to provide for the most vulnerable families at the grassroots level.