ASCADSV celebrates completion of skills training at awards ceremony

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The American Samoa Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (ASCADSV) has marked another successful milestone of its local community’s empowerment initiative after the completion of a six weeks Sewing and Wood-carving Skills Training on July 23, 2021. The awards ceremony was held at the DYWA gymnasium – Tafuna, and was officiated by Ms. Ella Gaea-Peleti Mauga, the First Lady of American Samoa and invited guests.

Added to the honor of that day was a surprise visit by Governor of American Samoa, Lemanu Sialega Peleti Mauga. The keynote speech for the graduating class of women and men was presented by the First Lady. The Governor reaffirmed the word of the day by emphasizing the significance of reviving traditional patterns in Samoan artwork and culture.

Gov. Lemanu Peleti S. Mauga and First Lady Ella Gaea-Peleti Mauga attending the awards ceremony for a six weeks sewing and wood-carving skills training by the American Samoa Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (ASCADSV). [courtesy photo]

In so doing, the Governor reiterated, “our local communities have to preserve the traditional gifts and talents of our people, and, at the same time, teach and share them to the forthcoming generations for their own benefits as well as for the betterment of our local communities.”

The celebration was well attended by relatives and friends of the graduating participants, official guests and the graduating class.

This is the 9th year since ASCADSV initiated the Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) programs under the auspices of the ASG-Department of Commerce (DOC). The main aim of these programs as ASCADSV’s executive director, Mata’utia Liliu Mailo asserted; is “to empower women and men, girls and boys in our communities to become self-supportive and self-sufficient, socially and economically.”

By training and developing personal gifts, skills and talents in various arts/ trades, each individual can enhance a promising future by putting such gifts in to proper and wise usages. In so doing, a person can surely become independent socially and financially as he/she can earn monies from such trades, be able to find employment, become self-employed, or engaged in an entrepreneurship venture by creating one’s own small business.

Rev. David Willis, who was also a participant of the Wood-carving class, opened the event with a word of prayer following an official welcome address by the executive director.

This year’s programs mark the 3rd year for Sewing Skill Training, and the first year for Wood-carving. The option for Wood-carving replaces the Carpentry training which had been running for the past two years.

One of the participants in the sewing and wood-carving skills training hosted by the American Samoa Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (ASCADSV). [courtesy photo]

Sewing in American Samoa is perhaps, the fastest money-making industry. Alongside that reality is the fact that the costs/prices of sewing clothes/puletasi etc. is rising exponentially. As a remedy to that situation, learning the sewing-skills is a huge step for women and men in order to be self-reliant and independent through sewing one’s own dresses, clothes and a variety of household items. For this year, there were 3 classes for sewing.

Thirty-two women graduated from the Sewing Training, and for Wood-carving, there were six graduating students. Interesting in this group are our palagi colleagues who have the patience to persevere, and had wonderfully carved their own traditional tanoa to be taken home as souvenirs. Altogether, there were 38 graduating students – a group of women and men who completed 2021’s sewing and wood-carving training program.

The executive director stated that “the project’s main intentions of learning the sewing skills and working something beautiful and elegant has served its purposes. Most of the women and men participants have not only learned how to design, cut and sew their own wears – clothes and dresses but, they have also discovered how to carve quality handicrafts from solid and hard indigenous wood.” The women and men who completed the courses showcased their items after being awarded with gifts and certificates.

As tokens of their gratitude and appreciation, the graduating class reciprocated such honor with a presentation of gifts to the instructors and honored guests. Feasting and entertainment to celebrate the momentous occasion concluded that day.

Group photo of Governor Lemanu Peleti S. Mauga, First Lady Ell Gaea-Peleti Mauga and people attending the celebration ending the sewing and wood-carving skills training hosted lat month by the American Samoa Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence (ASCADSV). [courtesy photo]

ASCADSV acknowledges the sponsorship and contributions of our local government departments and businesses, including last but not least, ASCADSV appreciates the invaluable contributions and the gracefulness of its volunteer workers for the 2020/21 project, and always looks forward with excitement to upcoming empowerment programs.

Apart from the empowerment initiatives, ASCADSV as a non-profit organization advocates for human rights amidst violence and abuse. Its mission and vision are to cater for the needs and safety of the victims and survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. In American Samoa, the victims and survivors of violence and abuse, at most, are women and children.

Fa’afetai tele lava. Ia fa’amanuia le Atua i lo outou soifua tautua.