The re-opening of the library at the children’s ward of the Tupua Tamasese Meaole Hospital was hosted by project partners, Samoa Stationary And Books (SSAB) and Samoa International Finance Authority (SIFA) Friday morning 6 July 2021.
Named God’s Library, the project povides a tranquil setting of lounge chairs, a wall mounted television, soft toys, activities and a wide range of children’s books for the paediatric ward of Samoa’s National Hospital.
The library has been closed since the measle pandemic and now re-opens in its new and improved form, as an initiative of SSAB and SIFA.
The CEO of SIFA Tuifa’asisina Sieni Voorwinden and SSAB CEO Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai met up several months ago and got chatting about how they could work together to make this happen for the children’s ward.
Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai during her keynote address thanked Samoa’s Health Director Leausa Dr. Take Naseri for the opportunity to work on this project; focused on restocking the library and providing new equipment for children to access, when they have to stay in hospital.
“Tuifa’asisina and I are close as we are both lawyers and we worked together in the government for some time;
We have the same heart for the Lord and also to do great work for the community;
“I am standing here today to represent our partnership, SSAB and SIFA, and to say thank you to everyone with a special thank you to Leausa Dr Take Naseri for giving us this opportunity,” said Tofilau.
“Tuifa’asisina and I are so happy to work together in partnership to rebuild and relaunch God’s Library;
“We believe that without God’s blessings and love upon us, we wouldn’t be able to complete this dream;
“We are always willing to offer anything that would help our children with their learning, and especially to encourage their reading.”
Tofilau also paid tribute to the late Alosamoa Erma Vaai for she had first started the SIFA children’s library.
“This is her legacy too’.
SSAB and SIFA went further and offered to keep on replenishing the books in the library, and allow children to take home books that they want to continue reading or keep.
Librarian Sesilia Atonio from Faleula said she was so happy for the support towards the children’s learning.
Mrs Atonio says this is her first time as a librarian, however, she is an experienced teacher and will work with children on writing and she would also be teaching the Word of God.
Sesilia is thankful for her job and says it is a blessing to help the children in the hospital.
