Implementing Change through the Fa'afafine Rural Project

Written by:  Jennifer Tofaeono, Ex Director   Photo retrieved from:  https://utopiawa.org/blog/60-years-of-faafafine-history-a-timeline-of-herstory-makers-events-surrounding-them-in-american-samoa/
The Alliance was awarded a 36 month grant through the Office of Violence Rural focused on improving the response to violence for the Fa’afafine Community.  Through the Alliance and our partners, we will strive to empower and provide the means for our community to strengthen allies, create new partnerships, and work towards change to improve the lives of Fa’afafine community who face domestic and sexual violence.
As the Alliance Executive Director, I recognize that this 36-month program will focus on community conversations, leadership building, community visioning and an action plan implementation to improve the lives of Fa’afafine’s who victims of violence are, while strengthening advocates response to violence for the Fa’afafine community.  We have much to do in a short time. 
Our first steps are to hire a Program Manager and Administrative Assistant focused solely on the Rural Project.  The Project Manager will be responsible to develop a program that will strengthen collaboration among service providers, ally organizations, and SOFIAS to meet the needs of the Fa’afafine victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and improve the safety and well-being of the Fa’afafine community.
The next step is to educate and train three Fa’afafine’s, based on the geographical zone organized by SOFIAS to provide Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault for Fa’afafine victims and coordinate service provision with LBJ Tropical Medical Centers, Department of Human & Social Services (ASG). 
In our discussions with Fa’afafine community they want to address systemic discrimination and improve public awareness of gender-based violence.  They have stated confidently they can “take care of their own”, and this is witnessed through the development of the SOFIAS as well as the zone spaces.  They have requested training to empower Fa’afafine to organize calls action, and the Rural Grant will support these activities.
Over the next three years we ask the community to follow us on this journey, and to aid in the success of this project.  One way you can show your help is by providing information to the community about the positions available for the Rural Project.  If you are interested in being a part of this project, please visit our website at: https://www.asalliance.co/positions-available.html and review the position(s) available.  If you have any questions email me at:  [email protected] and I will answer any questions.  I know that my team and I are looking for amazing new additions to the staff.  Looking forward to hearing from you!!
​