Apia, Samoa—Leaders of UPF-Samoa met with academics at a local university, the founder of an NGO, the director of a government social service program, and religious leaders and representatives over a week-and-a-half from September 5 to 14, 2023.
From September 5 to 6, they visited the National University of Samoa, where they met with several academics to discuss the need for character and conscience education in schools.
On September 6, the leaders met the founder of Talofa Kids, a local NGO focused on health, education, lifestyle and developing spiritual and cultural environments for raising happy and healthy children, and spoke about character and conscience education.
Also that same day, they met the public relations team and director of the Samoa Prison Rehabilitation Program regarding the possibility of engaging juvenile and/or adult prisoners with character education, Il Won Do and other activities that support personal development.
On September 8, a meeting with senior pastor Amosa Pouoa of the Apia Harvest Centre Church (Assembly of God) took place in which the Samoa government’s announcement that the primary language used in schools, the government and institutions be transitioned from English to Samoan, as a means to preserve, respect and harmonize the Samoan culture, was discussed.
Several days later on September 14, the leaders met the grandson and great granddaughter of the late Rev. Elder Oka Fau’olo, a former patron of UPF-Samoa, and visited the tomb of his wife So’oletaua Fau’olo.
They also met with the district elder and Mrs. Eves of the New Apostolic Church. Testimonies of how different persons present at the meeting joined their respective communities of faith were shared.
On September 19, the leaders attended a dinner meeting at the Rotary Club of Samoa during which they raised awareness of UPF’s projects in Samoa.
