I Lesatele
People at a JICA update briefing last Friday were each gifted with a bag as part of the 50th Anniversary of JICA Volunteer Program in Samoa
The bag is however no ordinary bag according to the Volunteer Coordinator at the JICA Office who initiated the bag project.
“ I want to make something good for Samoa,” he told Newsline. “ I want a bag everyone could use.”
He also added he wanted it to be a project that JICA could work together with a local.
The local counter part in the project was the Samoa Victim Support Group SVSG through its Nofotane project.
Twenty year old Jean Levale of Moamoa village assisted by her mother put into work her talent in designing the bag. The elei print on the bag was the work of the volunteer.
Participants last Friday were asked to use the bag for that would give the nofotane motivation and confidence. Nofotane is a name given to a married woman who lives with her husband’s family. Some of these women are treated poorly by the husband’s family members. Also by using the bag this would promote gender equality.
Using the bag would also promote an environmental message. “ By using the eco bag instead of plastic bags, you can reduce plastic waste.”
A total of 676 bags were produced which is the same number of volunteers who had served in Samoa since the commencement of the JICA Volunteer Programme in Samoa. These bags will be gifted to organisations and people in Samoa who hosted and supported the volunteers while working in Samoa.