Pacific Family Violence Awareness Event Saturday 18 August 2012 10am-2pm at Otara Shopping Mall
The South Auckland Family Violence Prevention Network (SAFVPN) is hosting a Pacific Family Violence Awareness Event in
Otara on Saturday 18 August 2012. With the support of the Its Not OK Campaign and Child Youth and Family, Kumi Fanua,
the Pacific arm of SAFVPN is taking its kaupapa to Pacific communities.
SAFVPN will work with Pacific artists, performers and social service providers on the day to raise awareness on Family
Violence. Social media comments aptly sum up what our communities are saying about this event: ‘Great to see the
generations Claiming back the Community’;. Ngapuhi Radio: ‘If you’re in the hood of OTARA go along to tautoko....communities taking action ..... STOP WHANAU
VIOLENCE’.
Lua Maynard says ‘SAFVPN is using this community event as a vehicle to initiate change in the way and how Pasefika
people in Manukau think about family violence. It aims to encourage and support Pasefika people in understanding more
about what family violence is, that it is OK to ask for help, where to go for help, and that it's OK to offer help to
someone who is experiencing violence.’
Leva Aati-Schuster, a Child, Youth and Family employee and member of the South Auckland family Violence Prevention
Network says “This event is about celebrating Pasefika and the great work the Otara community has been doing to help
prevent family violence over the last few years and to make sure the issue doesn't drop off the radar."
"Thanks largely to Pacific Everyday Communities, a 5-year programme targeting family violence and child abuse in a
Pacific context, our community has been mobilised to talk about the issue."
"It's vital we keep this momentum going by getting people together to talk frankly about why Pasefika continue to be
overrepresented in family violence statistics and how we can change this picture and make sure our children grow up in
homes free from family violence."
"Our challenge is to find solutions that work for Pasefika families in Otara and local communities starting in the home,
but also involving aiga and the wider community.”
ENDS