I.A.Y.S.P Samoa Take Project To The World
International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (I.A.Y.S.P)
Photo: I.A.Y.S.P
The International Association of Youth and Students for Peace (I.A.Y.S.P) Samoa is currently competing in the I.A.Y.S.P "S!nergy x International’ competition on November 26, 2022, in South Korea after qualifying to take part in the prestigious event earlier this year.
''S!nergy"stands for Students, Ideas, and Energy. andis a public speaking contest where you present their ideas for projects that solve a societal problem related to the U.N (United Nations) SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).
The Peace Designers training is a program under I.A.Y.S.P, which was conducted in preparation for the "S!energy" competition, where youth are taught the moral value of service projects and project planning skills.
Back in 2021, a team representing I.A.Y.S.P Samoa utilized the Peace Designers training to create a project called ‘Poutu Malosi’ to address the social issue of ‘negative venting’ where youth (and adults) verbally or physically harm themselves or others when upset or stressed.
The project was presented by team member, Miss. Vaetoeifaga Apelu at the ‘S!nergy x Oceania’ competition held via Zoom on the 25 th of January earlier this year.There, she presented alongside finalists from Fiji and New Zealand and won the first place monetary prize to support the project and a place to compete in the "S!nergy x Asia Pacific 2" competition.
The "S!nergy x Asia Pacific region 2" competition was held via Zoom on the 29 th of January 2022, with contestants representing the Philippines, Malaysia, and Oceania present at the competition alongside Apelu.
Several innovative projects were shared, providing services such as financial literacy and electric lights for rural areas, but Poutu Malosi was once again awarded first place.. Thus, the team received the monetary prize to assist with the project and a chance to present at the International competition.
There was a hiatus between the regional competition and the international competition as I.A.Y.S.P chapters throughout the world completed their S!nergy competitions. During that time, the I.A.Y.S.P Samoa team approached eight potential partners and secured verbal support for the project from four partners while the remaining showed interest and sought approval from their boards.
Poutu Malosi was screened alongside finalists from throughout the world in an elimination round, which determined which finalists would fly to South Korea to present at the International Competition. I.A.Y.S.P Samoa was selected as one of five finalists to attend the event in person.
The I.A.Y.S.P Samoa presenter, Miss. Vaetoeifaga Apelu, will present alongside speakers from the I.A.Y.S.P chapters in the United States of America, Japan, Peru, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In the interim, the I.A.Y.S.P Samoa team residing in Samoa, will continue to work with sponsors and partners on the ground to substantiate the project.
Poutū Mālosi will offer methods for youth to vent in a safe and healthy manner to achieve holistic well-being. It will offer outlets such as professional counseling, prayer support, martial arts, visual arts, and yoga. The name of the project refers to the strong pillars that support a Samoan Fale. The practices listed above would be considered ‘Poutu Malosi’ or strong pillars for the youth.
The International Association of Youth and Students for Peace was founded by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. The core values of IAYSP are Responsibility, Integrity, Service, Empathy (R.I.S.E) and ‘HyoJeong’, which is the heart to make your parents truly happy, beyond just a sense of duty to be filial.It is an NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations that focuses on character education and peace projects that support the UN SDGs.
The I.A.Y.S.P Samoa team members and seniors who assisted in developing the ‘Poutu Malosi’ project include Mr. Seti Suafa, Mr. Yong Kwon Suafa, Ms. Mee Hwa Atimalala, Ms. Vaetoeifaga Apelu, Ms. Jennifer Coffin, Miss. Esther Rayna Key, Ms. Lua'ipoumalo Maualaivao, Ms. Claudia
Muagututia, Ms. Natasha Lee Hang, Ms. Agnes Slade, Ms. Tai Ah Him, Ms. Tupulua Pelenato,
Mr. Ronnie Sodusta (IAYSP Asia Pacific 2 president), and Ms. Christine Obligar (I.A.Y.S.P Asia Pacific 2 secretary).