“What happens when there’s a disaster? More violence.”
Community Activator, Malia Tua’i Manuleleua (pictured above far right), from the NZ Red Cross, attended Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu’s Samoan family violence prevention and wellbeing training in 2020. So impressed was she that when Nga Vaka organisers scheduled a recent Samoan training day, Malia brought a team of NZ Red Cross interns along.
The Samoan training uses a conceptual framework called O Le Tōfā Mamao, to help Samoan community workers deal with family violence in their work.
“Having the knowledge from the conceptual framework has not only helped shape the way that I can better respond in my roles but I’ve used it to inform my decision-making on a personal level.”
As a mother of two young men, Malia (who hails from Vaimoso and Fagamal in Samoa) practices Tōfā Mamao’s principles in her personal life.
“In our families we are matai (chiefs) too, we are leaders in our own right. As sisters, as aunties, and as mothers – we’re the ones who help shape our sons.”
“Our boys are good boys but where do they learn from? Their mothers first and foremost. As mothers, and as women, we have that power to make sure we raise our boys responsibly. To love the women that they are going to marry and to see that it continues with their own kids and the next generation and the next.”
In her role as a Community Activator with the NZ Red Cross Malia uses the Tōfā Mamao framework every day, using the cultural competency approach to inform her disaster response teams.
“What happens when there’s a disaster? More violence,” says Malia. “It’s important that they have this awareness when approaching certain families, and how they would deal with a violence situation – because not everybody is smiling when they attend callouts during a disaster.”
An important principle underpinning the dynamics of social and sacred encounters and interaction within fa’asāmoa is the desire to maintain and protect peaceful relationships (Vā tupuia) in ‘āiga, and between Sāmoan people. Tōfā Mamao refers to the wisdom of ‘āiga and their social and religious communities as a critical pathway to fostering and nurturing wellbeing, and strong and vibrant families and communities.
Which is also why Malia brought along young interns with her to the training programme.
“When I knew that this was happening, I wanted to get them in touch with it. They’re first years and I explained to them that it doesn’t really matter what field you’re getting into- whether it’s arts or something else- this is an issue that’s happening, and it’s important because it’s happening in our Pacific communities.”
“You can’t solve the world’s problems but you can help solve what’s happening in front of you, in your families and in your communities.”
As a board member on a few community organisations Malia feels like she’s better equipped with the knowledge from the conceptual framework to cater towards the needs of our people who have issues of violence.
“Everybody has a responsibility to not turn away, you have the power to make a difference so be brave and just do it. And the more people we share this information with, the better.”
“In our families we are matai (chiefs) too, we are leaders in our own right. As sisters, as aunties, and as mothers - we’re the ones who help shape our sons. Our boys are good boys but where do they learn from? Their mothers first and foremost. As mothers, and as women, we have that power to make sure we raise our boys responsibly. To love the women that they are going to marry and to see that it continues with their own kids and the next generation and the next.”