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(Photos:
Amy Fulcher) |
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NEW ZEALAND: Pacific
Island volunteers valued
Source:
MPIA Press Release
Volunteer Awareness Week (15 – 21 June) is an
opportunity to acknowledge the valuable
contribution of our Pacific volunteers, Pacific
Island Affairs Minister Luamanuvao Winnie Laban
said.
"Our Pacific people are known for giving to
their communities. Volunteers provide a variety
of services. You only need to look at the
important work of our churches, organisations
like PACIFICA and volunteers at events like the
Tokelau Easter Tournament to see the spirit of
volunteerism in our Pacific communities.
"This week is a great time to celebrate and
thank our volunteers for the role they play in
our communities, while also encouraging others
to get involved," Laban said.
More than one million New Zealanders are
actively involved in regular volunteer work in
their communities, with a Statistics New Zealand
survey carried out in 2004 finding that this
equates to 270 million hours of unpaid labour.
"The work of volunteers not only makes an
enormous contribution to the wellbeing of our
nation, it also contributes significantly to New
Zealand's economy," said Laban.
"Our Labour-led government values the many
contributions that volunteers make and is
serious about supporting the voluntary sector,
adopting a formal policy on volunteering in
2002. We have also increased funding to
volunteer centres and provided over $17 million
to community projects
through the Community Partnership Fund, which
received a further $6 million in this year's
budget.
"Budget 2008 also included $446.5 million to
fully fund contracted essential services
delivered by community and voluntary
organisations for vulnerable families, children
and young people. This will give providers the
ability to plan ahead, attract and retain
qualified staff, improve service effectiveness
and achieve good outcomes for our families.
"It’s the Pacific way to look after each other.
Our Pacific volunteers make a huge contribution
in strengthening our communities that we could
not do without.
"Volunteering is a rewarding experience and I
encourage people to discover the opportunities
available and get involved," Laban said.
Photo Captions:
Ministrer of Pacific Island Affairs; Luamanuvao
Winnie Laban with (from
left) Leilanah Suailua, Divah-Shane Laulu, and
Keelah Vaovasa.
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(Photos:
SRU) |
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SAMOA: U20 Junior World
Cup Update: Samoa v South Africa
Source:
SRU Press Release
We completed our last pool game and third game
of the tournament this evening losing to South
Africa 16 - 11.
South Africa (SA) is ranked second in this
tournament and they are certainly one of the
favourites to take the cup. They easily defeated
America (108 -18) and Scotland (72-3).
We opened up the first half from a series of
attack by our boys forcing a penalty in the SA
half that Ioane Sefo converted putting our first
point on board. This was followed by a try to
our winger David Masoe after the ball was
shifted through quick hands of our backlines.
The SA first point came from a penalty kick on
the 17th minute, but our lead was extended when
Ioane Sefo landed another penalty on the 20th
minute mark extending our lead to 11-3. The SA
came straight after a series of attack and
crossed our line on the 23rd minute.
The SA launch series of attack from this period
onwards but we defended so well that we refuse
to have them crossed our line again. The score
remain at 11-8 from this stage of the game up
until the last minute of the second half when SA
converted a penalty that locked the score at 11
all in the half time.
Second half saw some fierce tackles and defence
from our boys forcing the SA driven backwards in
their attack. We have few opportunities to cross
their line but again the SA defence was solid.
The rest of the game was exchanged in this mode
of attack and defence from both sides, until the
last four minutes before full time that SA broke
through our backline defence to score their
second try of the match taking the score to
16-11 and the final score of the game. This is
within a minute after was our centre Vavae
Tuilagi was yellow carded and sent off by the
Fijian Referee
for foul playing.
The boys went back and fought for the last
minutes of the game till the final whistle,
trying so hard to cross the SA score line but
were not successful.
Despite the fact that we did not win, your sons
performed bravely in Wales. They played like
champions and gave their all for Samoa from the
first to the last whistle. One commentator
stated that this is one of the closet upset and
best game he's seen in the tournament thus far.
The SA surely had a shocked of their life in
that our team caught them off guard with our
defence and attack, and it's a pity that it did
not come our way at the end. As management we
are proud of what they displayed today here in
Wales, and they must be congratulated.
Our Captain Afa Aiono has won the IRB man of the
match award for the second time.
Today we will be moving down to Cardiff (5 hrs
travel by bus) where we will play Australia next
Wednesday.
Only Samoa of the three (3) Pacific Island teams
attending has won two games in the tournament.
Both Tonga and Fiji has yet to win a game and
they will be moving up here in Wrexham for the
bottom four round up.
Faafetai Samoa mo lau tapuaiga Samoa, faafetai
mo alofaaga ma feau faamalolosi mai lau afioga i
le Ao mamalu o le Malo, lau Afioga i le Palemia,
Aiga o tama taaalo, Le Iuni Lakapi ma ana paaaga,
aemaise Samoa atoa.
O Ieova e va ai tatou.
Photo Caption:
Samoa v South Africa. Samoa U20 Manager
Namulauulu Sami Leota at lunch
with other other supporters; presenting a gift
to the S. Africa Coach.
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(Photos:
WYD) |
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AUSTRALIA: Pacific Media to attend the World
Youth Day Sydney Australia 2008
Source:
World Youth DAY Sydney
Press Release
World Youth Day (WYD) is the largest youth event
in the Pacific and the whole world, and will be
held in Sydney from Tuesday 15 to Sunday 20 July
2008.
Organised by the Catholic Church, WYD brings
together young people from around the globe to
celebrate and learn about their faith on a more
regular basis.
WYD08 will be the largest event Australia has
ever hosted. It will attract over 125,000
international visitors - more than the 2000
Olympics.
WYD08 will mark the first visit of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI to Australia.
Through the WYD08 experience, young people from
throughout the world will make a pilgrimage in
faith, meet, and experience the love of God.
World Youth Day is an invitation from the Pope
to the youth of the world to celebrate their
faith around a particular theme. Everyone is
welcome to attend.
MEDIA Registration:
Media registration for World Youth Day Sydney
2008 (WYD08) will close Friday 20 June, two
weeks from today.
Domestic and international media organisations
are urged to complete registration before the
deadline in order to obtain Media Accreditation.
If not accredited, media will not be able to
cover the events or access the International
Media Centre.
Once media representatives are accredited, they
will be able to access the secure media section
of the WYD08 website, containing detailed
information about media pool opportunities for
WYD08 and the facilities and services provided.
Media organisations are invited to register
online for the largest event that Australia will
host in terms of international visitors. The
event will also mark the first visit by His
Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to Australia.
Media registration is at www.wyd2008.org/media
WYD08 is a week of activities held from 15 – 20
July in Sydney. The event will attract
approximately 125,000 international registered
visitors.
The deadline for media accreditation is Friday
20 June 2008.
For any further questions or enquiries on media
registration and accreditation please email:
media.accreditation@wyd2008.org.
Further information on other media-related
services can be found at www.wyd2008.org/media
WYD08 is hosted by the Catholic Church, but is
open to all.
Photo Caption:
Media People interviewing the public about
World Youth Day.
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(Photos:
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AROUND THE WORLD:
Dwayne Johnson “THE ROCK” to receive
congressional award
Source:
Office of Congressman
Faleomavaega Press Release
Congressman Faleomavaega announced today that he
has accepted an invitation from the
Congressional Award Foundation to present Mr.
Dwayne Johnson, most popularly known as The
Rock, the Horizon Award during its Congressional
Award dinner ceremony on July 19, 2008, at the
Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC. The
Horizon Award is given annually
to individuals who have contributed to expanding
opportunities for all Americans through their
own personal contributions, and who have set
exceptional examples for young people through
their successes in life.
The Congressional Award was established by
Congress in 1979 to recognize initiative,
achievement and service in young people. It is
non-partisan, voluntary, and non-competitive and
is open to all youth ages 14 to 23 regardless of
mental or physical challenges, or socioeconomic
status. It has no minimum grade point average
requirement.
The Congressional Award Foundation is a
private-public partnership which receives all
funding from the private sector. The foundation
teaches participants to set and achieve
personally challenging goals that build
character, and foster community service,
personal development, and
citizenship. Participants earn Bronze, Silver
and Gold Congressional Award medals and
certificates by achieving a certain number of
hours in the four areas: volunteer public
service, personal development, physical fitness
and exploration.
During this year’s Congressional Award ceremony,
the United States Congress will honor
approximately 240 young Americans with its most
prestigious award for young people – the
Congressional Award Gold Medal.
“I am very pleased and honored to have been
invited by the Congressional Award Foundation to
present The Rock its Horizon Award,”
Faleomavaega said. “The Rock is someone whom I
have known for many years since his childhood. I
have watched with great admiration his continued
success since during college, in professional
wrestling, and now in his new career as a
Hollywood actor where he is a movie icon
believed to be the heir apparent to Sylvester
Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger.”
Faleomavaega also received a separate invitation
from Katie Kornfield, Executive Director of The
Rock Foundation to attend the same ceremony and
to bring a special guest to be at the Rock’s
table and an additional five guests to the
event. Founded by The Rock in 2006, The Rock
Foundation seeks to educate, empower, and enrich
the lives of children age 0 to 22 worldwide
through its youth physical fitness and obesity
prevention program and its educational worldwide
giving program.
“I am pleased the Congressional Award has
recognized the outstanding work by The Rock and
The Rock Foundation on the lives of young people
around the world, and more specifically in the
United States,” Faleomavaega continued. “And, I
am most thankful for Katie Kornfield, The Rock
Foundation’s Executive Director, for inviting me
and for allowing me to bring a special guest to
sit at same table with The Rock and me.”
“I could not think of a more deserving Samoan in
the Washington, DC area to invite than Army
Sergeant First Class Sene Polu who is currently
receiving treatment at Walter Reed Army Medical
Center and recovering from major injuries he
sustained as a result of an IED explosion in
Iraq last April. Sene is a Toa o Samoa who has
served our country well and I was happy to
extend the invitation so he could join me at
this momentous ceremony honoring The Rock and
his foundation.”
“In addition, I have extended invitations to SFC
Polu’s wife, Rosie, and their two children,
Charlie and Chaztity, as well as to Reverend and
Mrs. Sui “Meki” and JoAnn To’alepai to attend
the ceremony. Reverend To’alepai is the senior
pastor at our Samoan community church in
Washington, DC.”
“I congratulate The Rock on receiving his
Horizon Award and wish him continued success in
his movie career. I also congratulate The Rock
Foundation and The Congressional Award
Foundation for their incredible joint efforts in
assisting young people who make positive choices
in their
lives reinforce the values of public service and
good citizenship,” Faleomavaega concluded.
Photo Captions:
Congressman Faleomavaega and The Rock during
their visit on Capitol Hill.
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(Photos:
Sina Solomona) |
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USA: Update from DC: Sene Polu’s Miraculous
Recovery
Source:
Sina Solomona
It’s a story no one will ever soon forget, nor
should ever be far from people’s minds,
particularly for those who have prayed, wept,
worshipped and pleaded with the Lord to spare
the life of one of Samoans injured soldiers from
Iraq.
This past Sunday in the US capital of
Washington, DC, amidst the exciting news of
America’s first ever African-American Democratic
nominee for the Presidential election in
November 2008, the conceding of America’s first
ever woman contender who came that close to
clinching the nomination, in the small little
Samoan Community Christian Church of DC who
worship at
the Old Post Chapel in Fort Myer, Virginia, the
congregants gathered again for their usual
Sunday worship.
Many were pleasantly surprised to be visited by
SFC Senetari Pe’a Polu (Sene) and his wife Rosie
and their children Charley and Chazity who last
attended services on Mother’s Day. It has been
several weeks since the Church has had its
members together as a full congregation. During
Memorial Day weekend, many of the church
traveled to Fort Bragg, North Carolina for the
“Toa ole Vateatea” Fellowship honoring Samoa’s
youth, a gathering where autalavous from Fort
Gordon and Jacksonville, Georgia participated.
The Polus during that weekend had visited
relatives in New Jersey and were also able to
spend some R&R in New York. When the contact was
made by the Polus for DC Church Treasurer
Isapela Enesi-Coggins to escort them to church,
it was a thrill for everyone knowing “Samoa’s
Miracle” is surely recovering well. In their
beautiful family “pea” provided by Sene’s sister
Foaese Fano of American Samoa, the handsome
couple and their children joined the Samoan
community in praise and worship.
It was only fitting then that as the Amata Lotu
was sung to usher in the Holy Spirit, the
popular hymn composed by the late Suliveta,
which was taught by Solomona Aoelua and played
by Dr. Fatilua Fatilua began with the lyrics,
“Vivi’i atu ia, outou ia Ieova, aua e fa’avavau,
lava Lona alofa. O tulivae uma, e to’otuli atu,
laulaufaiva uma, ta’uta’u i Lou mamalu. Lo’u
agaga e, vivii atu ia, Le Atua o le alofa, le
Atua e paia.”
Sene Polu was asked how he was doing as he
appeared remarkably well and in great spirits,
he replied in his usual upbeat voice, “I am
doing wonderfully, the prayers and intercessions
of so many people have truly blessed me and my
family, I want to thank them all. I am deeply
humbled and grateful to the awesome God we
serve, He is truly alive as He hears the cries
of His people.” (O lo’u manuia ia lea ua iai,
oute lagona o tatalo ma le fa’atauanau a le
to’atele o tagata ua matua’i fa’amanuia ai tele
a’u ma lo’u aiga, na’o lo’u fa’afetai ia te i
latou uma. Oute lagona
ai le agaga fa’amaulalo aemaise le o’otia ile
fa’afetai atu ile Atua fai mea ofoofogia o lo’o
tatou auauna ai, o lo’o soifua pea lava o Ia ma
fa’afofoga ile tagi atu o Ona tagata.)
For every Samoan who has read and known the
immensity of Polu’s injuries, his recovery has
been nothing short of a miracle. Visited
recently by Gen. David H. Petraeus
Commanding General of the Multi-National Force –
Iraq, young 12-year Chazity Polu filed this
report, “My dad was chosen by his case manager
Capt. Lyons to have lunch with Gen. Petraeus
while he came out for his visit to check on the
wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital,
on Thursday May 29,2008. Gen. Pretraeus
presented my dad with his coin. Too bad he
wasn't wearing his Samoan t-shirt instead he
wore his Planet Hollywood t-shirt, cause if he
wore his Samoan t-shirt then General Petraeus
would have known that my Dad was the Samoan
solder that Congressman Eni mentioned during his
Armed Forces questioning that was on April 10,
2008.”
While most people are always careful when around
Sene Polu to be respectful and sensitive to what
he has gone through, a more subtle inquiry was
asked how exactly, is he really feeling, what is
he truly experiencing personally, given
everything that he’s undergone the past
three months since the devastating event that
nearly cost him his life. Without missing a beat
as every tough Samoan young man would reply in
that reassuring way that sets Samoans apart as
true warriors at heart and putting everyone at
ease, Sene had this to say in our native-tongue,
“O le makua’i se-ki lava o si kakou mea lea ua
iai!” The writer of this article could simply
say, “Oi leai, o lena ua malosi mo’i lava oe,
alii.”
On a more serious note, he and his wife Rosie
plan to retire in the native land and are
looking forward to God’s greater plans in their
lives and their family’s future. Sene is a
Pentecostal associate pastor (a’oa’o fesoasoani)
referred to by many of his military comrades as
“Faifeau”, his wife Rosie is a Lead Worshipper
of the known Assemblies of God churches in the
West Coast and in Samoa. They feel strongly that
the slow-pace of island home-living will be
conducive to Sene’s continued recovery and
enabling them to share their testimonies in a
very personal way that will undoubtedly help
many people know the saving grace of God’s love.
Sene also has two
sisters and a brother all serving in the CCCAS
Ministry with roots deep in the Gospel for which
Sene exclaimed, “God’s thoughts are higher than
our own; His ways mightier than ours. It is His
will I obey for me and my family.”
Photo Captions:
Pastor Meki & wife JoAnn To'alepai with the
Polus, also Faletua Maxine
Puni wife of Rev. Dr. Erika Puni & daughter
Janae-Grace; Alex Amosa on extreme left and
Philip Leupolu infront, Samoa's future Billy
Graham. Polus at US Capitol. Sene with General
Petraeus. To'ana'i hosted by Samoan Church
Treasurer Pela Enesi-Coggins.
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(Photos: OFC) |
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VANUATU: Draw stifles Vanuatu and New Caledonia
World Cup hopes
Source:
OFC Press Release
The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC)
qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South
Africa™ resumed today with a 1-1 draw between
South Pacific Games champions New Caledonia and
hosts Vanuatu in Port Vila.
After a goalless first half, the Caledonians
opened the scoring in the 75th minute through
their striker Ramon Djamali, but the home side
were level only two minutes later, with
Vanuatu's South Pacific Games hero Etienne
Mermer heading home a cross from François Sakama.
The draw leaves New Caledonia on five points
from three games, but with home and away clashes
with Oceania heavyweights New Zealand to come,
it will take a monumental effort for the
Caledonians to progress from the Oceania zone.
Vanuatu, for their part, are now all but out of
contention, with only one point from three
games, and two away encounters to come.
New Zealand, with a perfect record of three wins
from three games in the group, will feel even
more comfortable after today's result.
Photo Captions:
Vanuatu v New Caledonia.
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