As part of the Trinity student-run volunteer initiative, Project Poutasi, the group raised funds and awareness throughout the year to provide aid and learning resources to Samoan school students.
As a culmination of their efforts this year, the volunteer trip was a rewarding experience for the group to affect change where they could.
‘The majority of our time was spent in Poutasi village, which was devastated by a tsunami in 2009,' Jessica Bradford (2nd year Arts), said.
'At the local school we ran English, science and commerce classes for students in years 12 and 13 approaching final exams and held further tutoring sessions outside school hours. We also reorganised the school library so that appropriate English books were accessible to students.
Developing scholarship linkages with schools and universities in the region throughout the year, the project group secured a grant from the University of Melbourne enabling a student from the local school in Poutasi to attend University in Samoa.
‘Aside from our time at the school, we spent two days with the All Saints Anglican Church in Apia, assisting with youth activities including worship and an annual bazaar,' said Jessica.
'We also attended the Samoa Victim Support Group, a shelter for young survivors of crime, where we sang songs and played games with the children.
‘The trip was fantastic. We established friendships with Samoan people and hope that with these connections we can revise the project for its continuation next year.'
