SVSG Communuty Training Update. As the parents and adolescents of Fasitoo-uta reached Module 4 of an SVSG community prevention program to end violence against children, there continues to a positive influence on the attitude and mentality change towards child protection.
Self reflection from the parents on the improvement in their relationships with their children and being in tune with how their children think and feel, speaks of a better informed community following the SVSG interventions.
According to one of the parents at the Fasitoo-uta Module 4 session, “being a sensitive parent and responding to your kids needs cuts across all areas of parenting” said Faletulutulu Ameti.
He recalled that some of our rooted beliefs which shaped how we care for our children, includes refraining from carrying your baby most of the time as they will end up being cry babies. Faletutulu said he has learnt from the program that a parent-child relationship establishes an understanding of what your child needs in the moment, and providing that in an effective way.
“For instance, holding your baby lovingly and responding to their cries, helps build strong bond, warmth and care. And here we are doing the opposite…”
The adolescents on the other hand continued to build on their life skills, and in Module 4, the discussion had reached drugs and alcohol and their association with risky behavior, poor decisions and peer pressure.
For the Fasitoo-uta adolescents, they shared experiences of the impacts alcohol and drugs had on the brain and body.
“It not only helps them became more aware of the existence of drugs in Samoa and what they look like, but most importantly, to be able to reject it, if forced upon them due to peer pressure,” states SVSG.
The community prevention program for the protection of children in Samoa, is part of a continuing partnership between SVSG and the UNICEF Pacific which began in 2015.
The seven communities piloted for the 2021-2022 community prevention program are Toamua, Fasitoo-uta, Fagalii, Luatuanuu, Solosolo, Siumu and Samalaeulu in Savaii.
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