‘LE FATUGA’ COMPETITION POSTPONED

Deputy Director of the Dept. of Youth and Women’s Affairs (DYWA) Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr. says that the continuation of the Le Fatuga competition that was set to be held later this year has been postponed until the beginning of 2015, to await new funding and the completion of the proposal for the project.

Last year, with grant funding from the Amerika Samoa Humanities Council and sponsorship from Bluesky Communications, DYWA hosted the Le Fatuga project with the goal of “preserving the art of writing and composing original Samoan songs, using traditional Samoan equipment and instruments, based on cultural history, legends, fables and oral stories passed down from generation to generation.”

A total of twelve groups participated last year, in a competition where songs were limited to ten minutes and performed using only the fala, pake (wooden drum), or Samoan selo (plastic bucket with string attached to the middle).

A continuation of the project was supposed to take place before year’s end with a sasa (traditional Samoan slap dance) contest, instead of a singing competition like last year’s event.

The postponed continuation project will focus on: “Samoa - yesterday, today, and tomorrow”, with the goal of having the performers incorporate the lifestyles of then, now, and the future, into their routines.

DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH IS FULL OF ACTIVITIES

A special ‘wave’ took place yesterday morning in front of the Suigaula ole Atuvasa Beach Park in Utulei to call attention to Diabetes Awareness Month, as proclaimed by Governor Lolo Matalasi Moliga.

Other activities planned for the remainder of the month include outreach and screening sessions at McDonald’s and the Fagatogo Marketplace next week, in addition to home visits and information booths that will be set up at the Tafuna Health Center, the OBGYN Clinic at the LBJ Medical Center, the Laufou Shopping Center, and the Territorial Administration on Aging (TAOA).

In his proclamation, Governor Lolo calls upon “the people of American Samoa to learn more about the risk factors and symptoms associated with diabetes, and to observe National Diabetes Month with appropriate programs and activities”.

Over 6,00 diabetics reside in American Samoa.

“If current trends continue, one in three children today will face a future with diabetes,” Lolo pointed out, adding that the people of American Samoa can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease by maintaining healthy eating and exercise habits, and consulting with the care providers about diabetic testing.

Co-Chair of the Tobacco/Diabetes Coalition Rev. Father Vaiula Iulio told the Samoa News yesterday that it is their goal to reach the masses, to spread helpful information on how to combat diabetes and teach people how to live healthy.

DYWA FUNDRAISING FOR NEW TUTORING CENTER

The Dept. of Youth and Women’s Affairs (DYWA) is in the middle of raising funds to purchase computers, tables and chairs that will be used in a new tutoring center that will be temporarily housed in the conference room of their current location on the second floor of the A.P. Lutali Executive Office Building (EOB) in Utulei.

DYWA Deputy Director Tapumanaia Galu Satele Jr. said yesterday that the purpose of the tutoring center is to provide after-hours guidance counseling, tutoring sessions, and computer training for the territory’s youth.

He said they have some computers on hand already, although they are working on getting more and trying to get the equipment up and running, as far as connectivity to the Internet.

As with all DYWA operations, the tutoring center will be relocated to the Community Youth Center in Pago Pago (former site of the old Korea House) once construction is completed later this year.

In other DYWA news, Tapumanaia said their office is working on closing out their activities for the rest of 2014 as they work to plan out what’s in store for 2015.

He said their focus now is carrying out partnership projects like the upcoming Christmas Program with the Arts Council, the celebration of 3-D month with the Dept. of Human and Social Services (DHSS), and the Great American Smoke Out with the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition (ASCCC).