Young Women Christian Association(Y.W.C.S) APPOINTS Ramona Tugaga AS A NEW PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

The Young Women Christian Association of Samoa welcomed its new President Ms Taimalelagi Ramona Tugaga after an unanimous vote from its members during their first meeting held in the weekend Saturday 2nd October 2021 at Amanaki Restaurant. This meeting comes after the organizations re-registering as a legal Incorporated Society NGO. Former President Maiava quoted in her farewell speech that “so many young women and girls of Samoa have benefited from the works of Samoa YWCA in the past years and having Taimalelagi as the first young woman president will bring greater influences and drive to the organization”

Taimalelagi Ramona Tugaga has been a YWCA leader for more than a decade and before taking her new presidential role she was the General Secretary. She holds other roles as the Regional Board Member into the Pacific Islands Regional Multi-Country Coordinating Mechanism, Samoa’s Focal Point for Shifting the Power Coalition in the Pacific, a Spotlight Initiative Reference Group Member representing Youth and Young Women Leaders and the Founder and Program Coordinator of the Le Teine Crisis Center Trust.

Maiava V Peteru also acknowledged the outgoing Board of Directors - YWCA who has worked effortlessly in reviving the organization since 2012. She also welcomed new board members and wished them well in their new roles.

President – Ms Taimalelagi Ramona Tugaga

Vice-President – Ms Sina Ale Tafua

Vice President Young Women – Ms Agnes Anitelea

Treasurer – Ms Kuinileti Kolia

Executive Committee – Ms Natalia Iosefa, Ms Jasmine Chan Kum Tong, Ms Salote Patosina 

General Secretary – Ms Meritiana Oti-Ng Lam

Samoa YWCA has been a pathway of many strong female leaders including former presidents such as Maiava Visekota Peteru and Prime Minister Honorable Fiame Naomi Mataafa.

YWCA is a non-government organization established in 1974 for the promotion of programmes for young women of Samoa. The YWCA of Samoa is a member of a worldwide women’s volunteer

membership inspired by the Christian faith (World YWCA). The purpose of the YWCA of Samoa is to develop the leadership and collective power of women and girls in Samoa to achieve human rights, health, security, dignity, freedom, justice and peace for all people.

Samoa YWCA has reached more than 5k young women and girls of Samoa since its revival in 2012 through its programs and activities in empowering and strengthening the feminist movement in Samoa.