SAMOA KIDZ LIBRARY APPEAL

Leapai Richard Brown of ASA Foundation as part of the MEASLES SAMOA FUND APPEAL (MS19) and relief work presenting your kind assistance to Pelepesite and Elisapeta, parents of baby Ah-Yek, at his Nuufou grave.

ASA Foundation and partners have been on the ground in Samoa for 7 weeks now providing financial assistance, coffins and aid supplies to families that have lost a loved one to measles, also supporting local not for profit partners and the Mental Health Service.

Following yesterday’s announcement by Prime Minister of Samoa, Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, ASA Foundation is committed to remain in Samoa up to the end of February supporting the State of Recovery work.

This includes the continuation of its partnership with Frankie's Supermarket in assisting the Mental Health & Psychosocial Support service at Motootua Hospital to assist with the measles mental health impact.

ASA FOUNDATION FLYING VOLUNTEERS: Between the 9th - 12th January, ASA Foundation will have its first group of Flying Volunteers on the ground, tasked with the distribution of close to 50 pallets of aid supply in partnership with the Government, the Ministry of Health and local organisations. Another group is scheduled for the last week of February.

ASA Foundation has been fielding a lot of queries from Samoans and friends of Samoa overseas wanting to go across to help since early November.

If interested you can now sign up to join ASA Foundation Flying Volunteers. You will get the opportunity to meet the families that we’ve been assisting, also frontline health staffs and volunteers in Samoa.

Flying Volunteers organise and pay for their own travel and accommodation while ASA Foundation will look after transport and food during the 4 days volunteer work in Samoa. Volunteers can travel early then join in the 4 days work, while others may want to be there for the 4 days then stay on for a few more days to visit families.

For more information about the ASA Foundation Flying Volunteers, contact Tofilau Esther Tofilau on (+6421) 0292-6670 or email esthertofilau007@gmail.com if you wish to join the ASA Foundation Flying Volunteers.

For 5 weeks over November and December ordinarily people in New Zealand and Australia have been doing some extraordinary work in collecting aid supply for Samoa. The first container of four; containing nappies, wipers, children care supply, masks, gloves and hospital supply has already been distributed in Samoa. All this would not have been possible without the dedicated teams of volunteer partners below:

NEW ZEALAND

* Marlborough - Lynette Leota

* Christchurch - Martha Tuli

* Wellington - Henrietta Hunkin-Tagaloa, Asomua Sulu Sheck & Kaira Sheck

* Palmerston North: Fatima Sae

* Otaki & Kapiti Coast - Angelina Mose Tuialii & Hana Fa'auma Alaga

* Auckland - EIF International

* Auckland - Henderson Cars

* Auckland - Main Freight

* Auckland - Maketi Samoa Foods & Produce

* Auckland- Gmana Wholesa Autos

* Auckland- Debra Tuuaga

* Auckland - Mena Shop & Gina Loheni

* Auckland - Tavita Lefale

AUSTRALIA

* Sydney: Shearer Pule Maiava

* Sydney: Cecilia Misitea

* Sydney: J & R Enterprise Sita Taalili

SAMOA KIDZ LIBRARY APPEAL: As you know most of the fatalities are children under 5 years old. While we may have lost a generation, we have the opportunity to give the surviving children a better future.

The SAMOA KIDZ LIBRARY APPEAL is for ASA Foundation and partners to build 3 mini libraries In Memory of the children that died of the 2019 measles epidemic.

Please spare a few dollars this Christmas to donate to the SAMOA KIDZ LIBRARY APPEAL Givealittle page by clicking on the link below: https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/samoa-kidz-libraries

ASA Foundation is grateful to companies, churches, organisations and individuals who have partnered with us to ensure there is a well coordinated operation to reach the people in need as soon as resources are available. Most donors that have contacted us wants assurance that their donations goes directly to the people.

Report to date of donations through ASA Foundation and partners:

1. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Supported 40 families to date. 41 more families to go as donations becomes available. Today the most urgent assistance needed by the families directly affected with the loss of a child is financial assistance to give the children a proper burial. This work continues until we have helped every family that have lost a love one. This had been made possible with the help of our funding partners:

NEW ZEALAND:

* Ariana Paul (TriMāori)

* Rob Campbell (Chairman Skycity Entertainment)

* Tofilau Kerupi Tavita & Jesus For NZ

* Aotea Finance

* Dave Letele (Brown Butter Bean)

* Pacific Ezy Money Transfer & Moana Rentals

* GMana Wholesale Autos

* Maketi Samoa Foods & Produce

* ProCare PHO

2. KIWI COFFINS: Supported 4 families by ASA Foundation offering a coffin donated by Kiwi Coffin Club in New Zealand to ensure every child or loved one has the opportunity for a proper burial. If your family or know of a family that is struggling with funeral cost. We want to help. Please contact us. This assistance is available for as long as it’s needed.

3. FUNDRAISERS: Thank you to individuals, groups, churches and companies that have chosen to donate and partner with ASA Foundation. The MS19 appeal is direct from donors to the people affected... right now, not a week or a month later. We welcome anyone who wants to partner with ASA Foundation like the following fundraisers:

1. Action For Samoa (Wellington)

We acknowledge the significant humanitarian and medical assistance offered by the international community. We are also very grateful to the generosity of ordinary New Zealanders and our Samoan people who are donating nappies, wipers, masks, gloves, hygiene and other supply to assist children that are hospitalised.

CLICK link to view update: https://youtu.be/Rgnhpx7qol4

If you want more information contact Teleiai Edwin Puni on (+6421) 618-042 or email: edwin@puni.co.nz

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