STORIES OF TRANSFORMATION

The voice and journey of valued partners under the Tautua Program. Each story reflects personal growth, strengthened governance, and the collective progress of communities across Samoa. Discover how local leadership is creating lasting impact—one step, one voice, one village at a time.

DISCOVER MORE INSIGHTS HERE
Finding independence My name is Sina Ioane from Sili. I am a mother who works for my family. My family lacks nothing and is very independent because we have a farm where we grow bananas, taro, cocoa, and other produce. The produce from the farm is our sustenance and it helps us meet financial commitments. Since I joined WIBDI’s organic farm program I am encouraged to grow more, and I have seen the value in growing produce to provide for me and my family. For example, growing tomatoes is a change for me because my dad worked the land when he was alive and since I have no husband, I cannot rely on anyone but myself. I know that farm produce will sustain me and my children and set us up for the future. It is a pleasure to work the organic farm knowing that I have WIBDI’s full support. If I did it alone, I cannot go far and plant much with what I had. Now if we go to my farm, you will see how much I was able to expand with the tools WIBDI gave me. I would like to thank WIBDI for the support and hope they continue to support me. Right now, I have a request for a wheelbarrow to help me with my work to transport bananas rather than having the children carry them. The most significant change for me has been the level of motivation to plant and grow crops. Before, I thought I grew enough produce for example eggplants, and I thought there was no need to grow more. I also could not transport eggplants to the market by myself, so I watched the produce rot away. However, when WIBDI mentioned their markets where I can sell the produce, it motivated me to plant more. Truth is if I do not work my children cannot eat and there will not be enough to provide for the whole family. Right now, my children follow my example and I have encouraged other family members nearby to do the same so that they can access WIBDI’s services and provide for themselves as well. My motto in life is not to be idle but to keep on working hard and be independent so that I will not rely on anyone for anything whether it is vegetables or crops. Now I have invested the money I got from selling my crops and bought a few pigs in the hopes to start a pig farm. I also weave fine mats in my spare time because I have seen the high demand for it. Women In Business Development Inc Program Participant
Finding Independence

My name is Sina Ioane from Sili. I am a mother who works for my family. My family lacks nothing and is very independent because we have a farm where

View Story
Working together .I was one of the first village representatives who worked with the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) when they initially introduced training of village representatives’ training in 2010. I have worked with SVSG ever since. I have worked as a champion in the fight against Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Today, in my old age, SVSG still approaches me to help coordinate and connect them to other village representatives within our district. I stand for and am very supportive of the work of SVSG. The greatest change I have seen in the program in the past year is seeing many people come together to address problems and use each other’s contacts to connect them to the right people. In the beginning, people worked alone and there was no interest in helping others. I have now seen that the program has brought many people together. The training really helped us know that we should work on as one to address violence. Now the training representatives are more sociable. For example, people who did not socialize or talk to others before can now pick up the phone to call and communicate, which makes work more effective in this space. This change is the most important one I have witnessed because working together in unity and peace is the will of God. Samoa Victim Support Group Program Participant
Working together

I was one of the first village representatives who worked with the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) when they initially introduced training of vil...

View Story
Thinking about change. I moved to Samoa nine years to start and raise a family. I am a wife and a mother of two and I wanted to make some extra money to help my family. I am not a farmer but in the Samoa Women’s Association of Growers, I found an organisation of women helping other women set up their own businesses. So I decided to prepare and sell Sushi at the Saturday SWAG market. I thought it was impossible as a foreigner to make money just by making Japanese sushi, but I am always selling everything. I joined SWAG almost four years and have had access to training and support through the membership and people in this association. But all of these years, we didn’t have training like the branding and marketing one. I am not a farmer, and this was the first time we had training more directly connected to running a business, more realistic. It is difficult to find this kind of training here. I feel really lucky. After training, my most significant change has been at a personal level. I haven’t made any changes yet, but I am now thinking about it. I am more motivated and thinking more seriously about expanding my business. Maybe starting a catering business, as I have seen that people like my Sushi. But there are so many different aspects to expanding my business. Training has made me picture a business and shape it. I also feel inspired by other members’ stories of business success. Samoa Women’s Association of Growers Program Participant
Thinking about change

I moved to Samoa nine years to start and raise a family. I am a wife and a mother of two and I wanted to make some extra money to help my family. I...

View Story
My body is my right. I first registered with Samoa Family Health Association in 2004. I joined because I wanted to plan the number of my children and avoid unwanted pregnancy because of the high cost of living of having too many children and I am still young. The service delivered by SFHA is very important and very accessible to people like me who live in the remote area. I don’t need to travel to a hospital because the clinic will be coming to my house. I really appreciate these kinds of services as it makes life easier. The most significant change for me has been the frequency of having my children because of the contraceptives provided by SFHA and seminars attended have made me very conscious of my health and some of the risks associated if I don’t use the right contraception. My husband also agrees with my decision to use contraceptives. Samoa Family Health Association Program Participant
My body is my right

I first registered with Samoa Family Health Association in 2004. I joined because I wanted to plan the number of my children and avoid unwanted pre...

View Story
Leading with love and peace. Ive been part of the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) training program for three years. SVSG approached me when they noticed my passion for helping youth during one of their outreach programs at Falefa village. The most significant change for me since joining the program has been my approach to leadership, where I have learnt to lead my family and village with love and peace. Since my involvement in the program, I quit smoking and drinking which used to cost me more than two hundred tala ($200 WST). I used to fight with my wife when I ask her for money to buy cigarettes and beer. The SVSG program has given me the purpose of helping resolve family and village issues. I sit in village meetings every Saturday, where we give advice and find ‘solutions’ to problems. In the last year, I have referred rebellious and abusive youth from my village to the SVSG programs and 2 victims. I also referred a rape and a domestic violence case by contacting SVSG and the police. I then took the matter to our village to decide the penalties for the people involved. One youth I referred to the police and the SVSG program was my nephew because he hit someone with a log. Although I did the right thing by referring the case, I received accusations from my family for being so heartless and turning my own nephew in. I wanted to show the village that I am not biased and that I will work to bring peace by doing the right thing. My nephew received anger management and counselling from SVSG program. Although there are no changes to his disruptive behaviour yet, I believe in transparency and doing the right thing to bring about peace. It was a tough decision to make because of my family’s reputation. Samoa Victim Support Group Program Participant
Leading with love and peace

I’ve been part of the Samoa Victim Support Group (SVSG) training program for three years. SVSG approached me when they noticed my passion for helpi...

View Story
Supporting my family is important I have been working for WIBDI for about a year. Before that I was a teachers’ aid working in a school. The salary was about the same as I get now but the difference now is that WIBDI is really supportive as a place to work. The boss is very caring and we can ask her anything and she will try to help. She is like a mother. My most significant change is that since joining WIBDI I am learning new things that can help me support my family. Before I was sitting in a classroom teaching kids, but now I am learning how to be a better farmer and plant and grow seeds that will help support my family into the future. It doesn’t matter what job you have as long as you can support your family and gain new knowledge. Now I’m meeting people and working as part of a team on a new project (Rhinoceros beetles), learning useful things and hope to do more field work, help more farming families and maybe start my own project in WIBDI. I have two deaf friends that I think would like to work here too but I haven’t asked the boss yet. Women In Business Development Inc Staff Member
Supporting my family is important

I applied to work at the Samoa Family Health Association (SFHA) and have been with them for 3 years as a clinician for static clinics. As a registe...

View Story
More farming more market I am Ami and this is my story. I joined WIBDI about 6 years ago and I am a certified organic farmer. Before joining WIBDI, it was challenging to look for a market to sell my harvests. Sometimes I sell them in front of the main road. Joining WIBDI has been the most significant change for me and my family. I now have access to the online market and the open market organised by WIBDI. I don’t worry now about looking for a market, but I focus on my farm and grow more crops/fruits that are in high demand, such as the Tahitian lime and Asian herbs. The support I have received, such as the water tank and seedlings, has expanded our crop varieties and sustained our income. Lack of access to water was one of the issues I faced when first started farming due to the mountainous location. But the water tank from WIBDI has enabled our family and farm to have access to water. One important change for me is not using any chemicals to grow crops anymore, which means people get the best organic crops. However, controlling weeds is a big challenge given that I am the only one working at the farm and it is costly for me to hire people. I need to learn new ideas and methods of controlling weeds so I can maximise using more land for my crops. Women In Business Development Inc Program Participant
More Farming More Market

I am Ami and this is my story. I joined WIBDI about 6 years ago and I am a certified organic farmer. Before joining WIBDI, it was challenging to ...

View Story
Empowerment for people with disability I am 32 years old and have worked at WIBDI for 2 years. I have been working on production of soap and oils, going out to the community and supporting bee keeping, gardening, and planting – we never stop learning. Before WIBDI I didn’t know anything about farming! My most significant change is that since joining WIBDI I am able to empower people with disability. Before I didn’t have the connection with the deaf community and I didn’t have the confidence or skills to support people with disability to be empowered and have a voice. WIBDI gave me the opportunity to up-skill myself in leadership and other training and represent the organization at national and international events. When I started at WIBDI I was the first deaf person here and since then we have encouraged and supported many more deaf people and people with other disabilities to enjoy being employed here. We have nine people with disability working at WIBDI now. It makes me so happy – so excited to see people come out of their shells and be empowered. Not just them but their families and we can see improvements in their lives outside of work too. Women In Business Development Inc Staff Member
Empowerment for people with disability

I am 32 years old and have worked at WIBDI for 2 years. I have been working on production of soap and oils, going out to the community and ...

View Story
Now I Can Dream . I joined Women In Business Development Inc in 2016 when they came to Savaii to show the women’s group how to weave fine mats. I was sitting outside and the WIBDI people asked why I wasn’t in the room. Since then the old ladies taught us how to do the weaving and then we get sponsored to do work and WIBDI comes to take away the weaving and I get the money. My life has changed so much since then – I can pay for my daughter to study at university, I can support my family and extended family – before both my husband and I were not employed. My most significant change is that I was able to build a house with the money from the weaving. Even though we now live in my husband’s house, the house that I built will go to my kids and they’ll love it. It’s close to the beach and has a proper toilet and its my greatest achievement. Before I had no idea about fine mat weaving, I had no dreams or wishes about supporting my family. Now I think and I dream. I keep the key to the money box because I have to be careful with money. I’m strong but I work hard to make the fine mats and sometimes it’s hard because of the weather. My next goal is to buy a car! Women In Business Development Inc Program Participant
Now I can Dream

I joined Women In Business Development Inc in 2016 when they came to Savaii to show the women’s group how to weave fine mats. I was sitting ....

View Story
get in touch
location

Level 02, Vodafone Building |1 Logan Street | Maluafou, Apia | Samoa

Email
info@tautuapartnership.org
Phone
+685 600 409
Opening Hours

Monday-Friday 9.00am - 5.00pm

Quick link
Contact Us
Latest Publications
Samoan Government LogoAustralian Government Logo

© 2026 Tautua Partnership . All Rights Reserved. Developed & Designed by Greenology Samoa Ltd