Kelly Gets Involved In Samoan Culture

Last week I was invited to join in with the Kew Pacific Island Learning Centre, and children and teachers from New River Primary School to celebrate Samoan Language Week.

Each day the children came together for a variety of experiences such as Samoan arts and crafts, learning to make traditional Samoan food, practising greetings, and Gagana Samoa (Samoan language).  Members of the wider Samoan community also joined through the week for traditional teachings.

The theme for this years Samoan Language Week is ‘Mitamita i lau gagana, maua’a lou fa’asinomaga’ which means ‘Be proud of your language and grounded in your identity.’

To end the week a celebration was held at the Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust.

Kew Pacific Island Early Learning Centre is owned and governed by PIACT who host the celebration for Samoan Language Week every year.

The children joined Southland Girls High School’s Pasifika performance group Oli Ula for a morning of true Samoan celebration, singing, dancing, laughter, and of course delicious food!

The New River Primary and Kew Pacific Island children performed a Samoan Sasa which they learned and practiced all in 4 days.  The Oli Ula girls performed beautiful and very moving items traditional to the Samoan culture.

Kew Pacific Island Early Learning Centre provides a learning environment for all children to strive for educational excellence, retain Pacific language, traditions, songs, and culture, and develop their personal potential, understanding of social / community responsibility, and respect for individual and cultural differences.

To enquire about available spaces contact the Centre Manager: Rebecca Fa’alologo-Robertson [email protected], 032143237