SVSG Salutes Ale Tiatia as a Pillar of Volunteerism

Apia, SAMOA – 08 April 2024 – Nineteen years now since its establishment in 2005 as a provider of support services for victims of crimes and the marginalized members of the community, volunteerism plays a vital role in the operation and the progress of the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG), from its humble beginnings, to date.

As such, the SVSG family are still coming to terms with news of the sudden passing of one of the pillars of volunteerism in the Group, Afioga Ale Tiatia Paepae Komiti, a Member of the SVSG Board of Directors.

Ale became a family member of SVSG in 2010 as a registered SVSG village representative of Toamua. His love for his community and his country Samoa, is a testament of his volunteerism spirit throughout 14 years of his service.

He initiated the setting up of an Executive Committee for the SVSG village representatives for Upolu and Savaii, to provide valuable support to the SVSG Board. It was an initiative that highlighted the foresight of this village leader, and his heart of service to the people.

Ale’s appointment to be the first SVSG Village Representative to sit on the SVSG Board in 2020, was in recognition and acknowledgement of his volunteerism spirit, to give without expecting anything in return.

He was President Siliniu, management and staff’s go to person, for anything requiring assistance from the community; whether it is coordinating community prevention programs, identifying victims or perpetrators for cases lodged with SVSG, or speaking in public forums on behalf of SVSG. Ale was always there with a cheerful smile. Talofa e! SVSG has lost a pillar of volunteerism within its extended family.

Ale Tiatia with SVSG President outside the Campus of Hope Playground in 2013.

Amongst the milestones Board Member Ale Komiti helped SVSG to achieve included:

Rebuilding SVSG’s office at the Old Police Building when it was severely damaged by the Cyclone Evan in 2012 as the lead Carpenter, with much of the administrative expenses for the volunteers all financed out of his pocket.

Setting up the SVSG Men’s Advocacy Program in 2013 in response to the identified need by the Family Court for rehabilitative counselling programs for men offenders of violence. As a self-funded program, Ale took over the responsibility for the operation costs of the Program during these early days.

Construction of the children’s hall at the Campus of Hope in 2013, providing ample space for the visitors to fellowship with the children.

Construction of the House of Dreams on Campus in 2016 specifically for the older girl survivors of violence, including the Weightlifting Champion Feagaiga Stowers, the Commonwealth Youth Award Winner Leilua Lino and many others who have successfully reintegrated back into the community.

Construction of the Sakura House – Domestic Violence shelter for abused women and their children in 2021, the first of its kind in Samoa, and a great need as more women requested safe houses through the Helpline for themselves and their children.

Rallying the support of SVSG village representatives to advocate within their own communities for suicide prevention, in light of the increased cases of attempted suicide callers to the SVSG Helpline in recent years.

Rebuilding SVSG’s office at the Old Police Building when it was severely damaged by the Cyclone Evan in 2012

His current project which is set to start next month, is the construction of a Pre-School for the younger children survivors of violence on Campus. It could have been a fulfillment of his construction work; from the SVSG main office Apia, a hall for the children, a shelter for the girl survivors and a shelter for the abused women and their children. Talofa e, “Blessed is that servant whom his Master will find so doing when He comes.”

“Thank you Ale Tiatia Paepae Komiti for serving the Lord cheerfully. Because your life of service reminds us of Apostle Paul’s encouragement to the believers in Corinthia that God loves a cheerful giver. Rest well in God’s love our dearest Ale, you have blessed us with your volunteerism spirit right to the end,” said Siliniu Lina Chang, SVSG President.