Frequently Asked Questions about the Samoa Youth Mission (SYM13)
What are you fund raising for?
We’re fundraising for SYM13, a journey by The Voice to Samoa in January 2013. SYM13 is a project that will make a real difference to the lives of The Voice members and the youth of Samoa, through improved literacy and education opportunities. The Voice will refurbish library and music room and also deliver some new books and laptops to St Mary’s School, Samoa. The youth will also strive to visit and contribute in some way to the restoration of areas in Samoa affected by the 2009 tsunami.
The tsunami shattered lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses& schools. Samoa was already a struggling nation in terms of wealth and education. SYM13 will be a mutual sharing of talents, time & outreach to our Samoan neighbours. SYM13 is a follow-up to our 2009 Multi-cultural day fundraiser where we raised money for Caritas Australia and their missions in Samoa following the disaster. It is hoped that this first-hand experience, will deepen our faith even further, as we strive to be the "hands and feet of Christ" in our world today!
Is the school in an area affected by the tsunami?
No, St Mary’s is located in Apia, the capital city of Samoa and was not physically affected by the tsunami. However, many of the students at the school come from families and areas affected by the tsunami.
Why are you going to St Mary’s?
As many of The Voice members come from Mary McKillop College, a Catholic Girl’s college, they wanted to help a Catholic school and St Mary’s is the only secondary girl’s college in Samoa. Samoa was chosen as a destination because many of the youth are of Samoan heritage so have a natural affinity with Samoa. Visiting a school such as St Mary’s which is one of the best schools in Samoa, yet still poor by our standards, will give The Voice the opportunity to appreciate what they have, and to express their Faith in action by giving something to others, and to help support literacy and learning in the school.
What do you need to take to Samoa?
In addition to the airfares for The Voice members heading over, we are also looking for donations of, or funds to purchase:
- Refurbished laptops or computers and associated software licences.
- Current high school level reference books and novels
- Paint, building materials and tools
- Concrete (to purchase in Samoa)
- Chairs, desks and curtains
- Shipping for the above items.
Will our old computers and laptops be of any use to the school?
Yes. St Mary’s does not have enough computers for even one class. As you can see from the photos on the Gallery page, most of the computers they have are quite old. Most of our second hand computers and laptops will be much better than the ones they currently have!
Where are you staying in Samoa?
We will be sleeping on the floor in the school grounds. We will be over there during school holidays so there will be enough space and we won’t disrupt the school.
What are you doing in the tsunami affected areas of Samoa?
We hope to work with Caritas, the Aid Agency for the Catholic Church, to identify some projects or initiatives that we can support.
Why travel over there? Why not just donate the money saved from airfares?
As well as providing improved literacy and education opportunities for St Mary’s, SYM13 also intends to enable The Voice to experience living in a country that has less than we do, a different culture, a different experience of their faith. Team members will be able to physically contribute to the fund-raising, the journey and the building activities. They will gain further understanding of community responsibility that will make them better community members here also.
We’re fundraising for SYM13, a journey by The Voice to Samoa in January 2013. SYM13 is a project that will make a real difference to the lives of The Voice members and the youth of Samoa, through improved literacy and education opportunities. The Voice will refurbish library and music room and also deliver some new books and laptops to St Mary’s School, Samoa. The youth will also strive to visit and contribute in some way to the restoration of areas in Samoa affected by the 2009 tsunami.
The tsunami shattered lives, livelihoods, homes, businesses& schools. Samoa was already a struggling nation in terms of wealth and education. SYM13 will be a mutual sharing of talents, time & outreach to our Samoan neighbours. SYM13 is a follow-up to our 2009 Multi-cultural day fundraiser where we raised money for Caritas Australia and their missions in Samoa following the disaster. It is hoped that this first-hand experience, will deepen our faith even further, as we strive to be the "hands and feet of Christ" in our world today!
Is the school in an area affected by the tsunami?
No, St Mary’s is located in Apia, the capital city of Samoa and was not physically affected by the tsunami. However, many of the students at the school come from families and areas affected by the tsunami.
Why are you going to St Mary’s?
As many of The Voice members come from Mary McKillop College, a Catholic Girl’s college, they wanted to help a Catholic school and St Mary’s is the only secondary girl’s college in Samoa. Samoa was chosen as a destination because many of the youth are of Samoan heritage so have a natural affinity with Samoa. Visiting a school such as St Mary’s which is one of the best schools in Samoa, yet still poor by our standards, will give The Voice the opportunity to appreciate what they have, and to express their Faith in action by giving something to others, and to help support literacy and learning in the school.
What do you need to take to Samoa?
In addition to the airfares for The Voice members heading over, we are also looking for donations of, or funds to purchase:
- Refurbished laptops or computers and associated software licences.
- Current high school level reference books and novels
- Paint, building materials and tools
- Concrete (to purchase in Samoa)
- Chairs, desks and curtains
- Shipping for the above items.
Will our old computers and laptops be of any use to the school?
Yes. St Mary’s does not have enough computers for even one class. As you can see from the photos on the Gallery page, most of the computers they have are quite old. Most of our second hand computers and laptops will be much better than the ones they currently have!
Where are you staying in Samoa?
We will be sleeping on the floor in the school grounds. We will be over there during school holidays so there will be enough space and we won’t disrupt the school.
What are you doing in the tsunami affected areas of Samoa?
We hope to work with Caritas, the Aid Agency for the Catholic Church, to identify some projects or initiatives that we can support.
Why travel over there? Why not just donate the money saved from airfares?
As well as providing improved literacy and education opportunities for St Mary’s, SYM13 also intends to enable The Voice to experience living in a country that has less than we do, a different culture, a different experience of their faith. Team members will be able to physically contribute to the fund-raising, the journey and the building activities. They will gain further understanding of community responsibility that will make them better community members here also.