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The Department of Youth & Women’s Affairs (DYWA) met on Wednesday, December 12th with local community youth directors to discuss objectives that include giving youth service providers and agencies the opportunity to present their services to youth leaders and participants. (Pictured, front row, l to r): Rev. Fa’apea Elia (Methodist Church Youth Director), Pastor Levi F. Laga’aia (Seventh Day Adventist Church Youth Director), Rev. Logologo Fa’alemiga (Assemblies of God Youth Director), DYWA Director Leiataua Leuga Turner, and DYWA staff member Cynthia Malala. (Standing, l to r): Rev. Miracle Tilo (Voice of Christ Vice President), Rev. Tumau Petaia (CCCAS Education Department and Youth Ministries Director), DYWA Deputy Director Roy Ausage, VOC Totino, and Father Kelemete L. Pua’auli (Catholic Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago - Youth Director). |
DYWA hosts meeting for youth directors and sets
Youth Conference for Dec. 28
The Department of Youth & Women’s Affairs (DYWA) held a meeting for local youth directors on Wednesday, December 12, at the DOC conference room in Utulei to discuss objectives that include giving youth service providers and agencies the opportunity to present their services to youth leaders and participants.
The meeting was attended by Rev. Fa’apea Elia (Methodist Church Youth Director), Pastor Levi F. Laga’aia (Seventh Day Adventist Church Youth Director), Rev. Logologo Fa’alemiga (Assemblies of God Youth Director), Rev. Miracle Tilo (Voice of Christ Vice President), Rev. Tumau Petaia (CCCAS Education Department and Youth Ministries Director), Rev. Father Kelemete L. Pua’auli (Catholic of Diocese of Samoa Pago Pago Youth Director), DYWA Deputy Director Roy Ausage, and DYWA staff member Cynthia Malala.
DYWA director Leiataua Leuga Turner presided over the meeting.
Some of the objectives on the agenda included discussions on ways to familiarize youth leaders and participants on the services currently available to them, and allowing them to provide recommendations on those same services.
In addition, DYWA wants to evaluate and assess existing youth services to identify any gaps in such services, and the goal of the discussions is to provide DYWA management with some assistance in their efforts to design youth programs to close those existing gaps in youth services.
Another objective mentioned included enabling youth service providers to collaborate, network, and share resources to service youth needs, and assisting in the development of the Territory’s National Youth Policy.
“I truly believe we will gain from the conference, ways to promote and forge networks and share knowledge, ideas, and solutions in youth issues,” said Leiataua. “It will be a great forum for young people as well youth service providers to discuss the impact of many social issues and the well-being of our young people with both youth service providers from the government and the community.”
With school on Christmas vacation, a Youth Conference has been scheduled for Friday, December 28 to be attended by Governor Togiola Tulafono with proposed participation by youth organizations such as: Teen Challenge, PICED and ASPIRC, YANA, Adult Basic Education & Upward Bound at ASCC, Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program from the Department of Human Resources, the Job Corps Program at the Senate, AmeriCorp program of the American Samoa Special Services Commission, Intersections Crossroads Theatre for Youth (CTY), the Humanities Council, Drug and Alcohol programs from the Department of Health and the Department of Human and Social Services, DHSS Crisis Line, DOH’s HIV & AIDS program, and the Coalition on Teenage Pregnancy Prevention.
“The dialogue and input at the conference will assist DYWA to develop policies and initiatives to deliver better services to meet the needs of American Samoa’s young people. So we need to hear the presentations and participate in the discussions,” Leiataua said. “It is always important for early intervention and prevention, so we need to identify the role of schools and youth organizations with which young people are regularly engaging. It is necessary that we encourage, promote, and maintain that support and responsiveness to the youth issues. That support needs to be continuous. What is required is more creative engagement of the youth.”
Leiataua concluded, “I truly hope for a respectful response to the conference because young people are the focus. It’s important to find creative ideas and solutions in our approach to working with the youth and encouraging them to share voice their concerns as well as share their respective approaches with youth service providers and other young people to making good choices for the betterment of the youth, the community, and the government.”
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