Funds awarded to five coalitions under Prevention FaaSamoa Project
Five out of the dozen coalitions from districts in both Tutuila and the Manu’a Islands were awarded checks of $5,000 each in a brief ceremony held in the Governor’s Office at the AP Lutali Executive Office Building in Utulei.
The coalitions were established last year under the federally funded Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive Grant (SPF SIG) or Prevention FaaSamoa Project which aims to create programs that steer the youth away from alcohol, tobacco, and drug use.
The five districts that were awarded their checks were the ones that completed their mandated action plans, in addition to obtaining their non-profit certificates.
They include: Maoputasi, Ituau Malosi, Fofo, Tualauta II, and Manu’atele.
Governor Togiola Tulafono, who serves as the chairman of the Strategic Prevention Framework Advisory Commission expressed his gratefulness to the traditional leaders for taking the lead role in the coalition and working with their respective villages in ensuring that the coalitions progress with their duties and responsibilities.
Togiola suggested that the coalitions not only work on addressing current social problems, but also work on finding ways to prevent the problem from ever becoming one. He congratulated each of the five coalitions represented and challenged the remaining coalitions to complete their necessary work plan requirements so they can receive their ‘seed money’ as well.
Department of Human and Social Services director Faafetai Talia I’aulualo, whose office works with the coalitions, explained that SPF SIG will fund a minimum of $20,000 per district, and up to $250,000 for counties with larger populations.
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