Unesco Director signs “My Village. My Pride” initiative with SVSG

Apia, Samoa 25 September 2023: The Director of the UNESCO Office for the Pacific based in Samoa, Nair-bedouelle, Shamila, paid a courtesy visit to the Samoa Victim Support headquarters in Apia this week. SVSG is one of UNESCO’s implementing partners for the Samoa Spotlight Initiative to End Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence.

The visit was to sign the contract for Phase II of the Performing Arts Awareness Raising program delivered by SVSG; which further puts the Spotlight on Ending Domestic Violence and Intimate Partner Violence, through the “My Village. My Pride” initiative.

It also presented an opportunity for SVSG to meet the Director and congratulate her on her post. The discussion then focused on an overview of SVSG’s support services, from its humble beginnings to where the Group is as to date.

SVSG has been working in partnership with the UNESCO Spotlight Initiative since 2020 through youth engagement programs, performing arts awareness raising, and the latest, being the Tech Solution developed now utilized for SVSG’s case management.

“SVSG’s partnership with UNESCO under the Spotlight Initiative have added value to prevention work to address domestic violence and intimate partners, through inclusive and culturally relevant approaches,” said the SVSG President, Siliniu Lina Chang.

“We look forward to covering more communities through Phase II of the Performing Arts Awareness Program,” said the Siliniu.