Children Survivors of Violence Embrace Farm to Table Project

Apia, Samoa – 26 August 2024 – Eighteen (18) children survivors of violence aged 12 to 18 and cared for at the Campus of Hope shelter, are the founding members of the Gardening Club set up on Campus. There are 14 girls and 4 boys in the Gardening Club, under the oversight of the Samoa Victim Support Group.

The initiative is part of the exciting Farm to Table Gardening and Cooking Project implemented by the children at the Campus, made possible by the World Health Organization’s Healthy Islands Best Proposal grant won by SVSG in 2023.

The project established a Gardening Club for children residents interested in vegetable gardening.

For a start, the Gardening Club members have delved into Sustainable Gardening in Module 1, where they have learned how to grow their vegetables and understand the importance of eco-friendly practices.

In Module 2, SVSG Young Chefs explored healthy cooking and vegetable preparation. They discovered the art of preparing fresh, nutritious vegetables and the basics of healthy meals.

Finally, in Module 3, they’ll put their skills to the test with Healthy Cooking – Cooking and Food Presentation. They’ll learn how to create delicious dishes and present them beautifully, making healthy eating fun and exciting!

The project aims to equip children with valuable skills in gardening and cooking, fostering a love for healthy living and sustainability.

In addition, the project uses gardening and cooking as tools to help nurture the healing of abused and vulnerable children living on the Campus.

This project is an initiative of the Healthy Islands vision supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). This vision aims for children nurtured in body and mind; environments that invite learning and leisure; ecological balance that is a source of pride.

“This project is unique. It focuses on gardening and cooking as tools to help nurture the healing of traumatized children living in shelters for abused and vulnerable children in Samoa; a country with high rates of violence and high rates of obesity,” said the SVSG President Siliniu Lina Chang,

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support from the WHO and can’t wait to share the amazing results of this project, with guests who will be invited to sample the gardening and cooking techniques developed by the Master Chefs at the Campus of Hope.”