Gov calls to revisit village curfews and encourages family prayers

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Governor Lemanu P. S Mauga has called on community leaders in the villages to revisit having curfews in the evenings for prayer services within families.

He made the call at the Department of Education’s Culminating Event to conclude the first cycle of the Mental Health Community Outreach Program on, Dec 17, 2022 at the H. Rex Lee Auditorium in Utulei.

The governor told families and community leaders that there are two fundamental pillars he believe parents and family leaders must uphold for our children if we wish to prepare them for the future.

“The first, a familial relationship with God. How are you incorporating the presence of God in your family? How many can say they still have family prayer in the evening?

“One effective tradition our forefathers created was a village curfew or Sā to designate a time where the families return to their homes to pray together and fellowship.

“We continue to have the designated curfews within the village, however it is no longer fulfilling its purpose within the homes.

“Do we still use this to our advantage as parents to bring our children together?” he asked.

“On the contrary, the Sā is being used to show off our Lotonuu.

“I highly encourage our community leaders and parents to revisit the purpose of the Sā.

The second pillar is the Samoan Culture, said Lemanu.

“Are we teaching our children the Samoan way of life and the values they hold?

“The world is advancing at a fast pace and we need to prepare our youth for what is to come by making sure they are rooted properly.

“How we nurture our children when they are young determines the outcome of when they grow older. In the Samoan household parents lead by example, the father and mother are their first role models.

“Your roles in the home, work, your tautua in the village and church, and how you prioritize your family, contribute to the mental and emotional stability of your children.

“In conclusion, we are all responsible for the task of helping our children with their mental and emotional health, however, I suggest it be done early on in a child’s life. As the saying of old goes, it takes a village to raise a child.

“In this new age, it must be a collaborative effort between the Government, Churches, Villages, Leaders, Parents and the Youth.”

DOE Director Talauega S. Asaeli emphasized the importance of Student Emotional Learning this school year by integrating learning activities to help develop students’ social, emotional and positive relationship skills.

The Guidance and Counseling division teamed up with DOE stakeholders to conduct a five week Mental Health Outreach in the community concentrating on five issues commonly inflicting the youth of American Samoa: suicide, bullying, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.