Samoa

In August 2007 in conjunction with our Educational shipment to Samoa we were able to send a number of aid packages to the Little Sisters of the Poor in Samoa. The Sisters run the only old persons home in Samoa. There is no government funding and they rely solely on donations. There is barely enough supplies most of the time.

Included in our aid shipment for The Little Sisters of the Poor, were medical supplies, linen, pressure wheelchair cushions and soap. This is our third shipment to this organisation.

In August 2007 the New Zealand OHTS office sent over 5,000 books and school supplies to the St Vincent de Paul Society in Apia, Samoa. One of the Brothers from this society is the Prinicipal of the Marist Primary in Apia. He was able to distribute the supplies to schools most in need.

In 2004 The Oneness-Heart-Tears and Smiles New Zealand sent over 1,500 books, 450 Kids Kits, sporting equipment and toys to Samoa. These items were transported from Apia to schools and pre-schools all over Upolu. The Samoan children returned letters expressing their gratitude for receiving these gifts, further fostering their friendship with their New Zealand friends.

The last of our March shipment was distributed in June. In a recent letter our contact in Samoa explained about one of the most memorable moments when distributing the items:

In 2005 the New Zealand OHTS Office received a call from a family offering us a pedal sewing machine.

We did not have a specific country to offer this machine to at the time but knowing how beneficial this item would be to someone we gratefully accepted this donation. We then started to make enquiries with our contacts in the Pacific and received this letter back from Samoa.

Samoa is composed of two large and several small islands in the South Pacific with a population of approx. 170,000.

In our June 2005 shipment to Samoa we were able to send a variety of items including walkers, wheelchairs, school desks and sports equipment.

A number of the walkers were given to our donor organisation which has cared for the elderly in Samoa since 1971. They currently care for 50 residences with minimal resources and were delighted to receive these walkers.

In late July 2005 toys and sports equipment from our June shipment were presented to a Special Education Unit in Savaii – a second chance education for those who have not succeeded in other schools.

Samoa's Health budget is about US$75 per person. This money covers all costs associated with health care from equipment, medication, preventative health services and even the wages of the health professionals. This means that the doctors have to make decisions on medical care to give to their patients based on the limited funding they have available.