Environment and development in coastal regions and in small islands

Education for Sustainable Village Living (Samoa)
A pilot Project for UNESCO-ASP Schools (Sa'anapu and Sataoa Primary Schools) and Sa'anapu - Sataoa villages which have a large mangrove forest/swamp

Sustainable development aims at meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. When development strongly depends on renewable natural resources, there is a need to develop a strategy to relate environmental sensitivity, local knowledge, problem solving skills and values clarification for every age group, and with special emphasis on environmental and cultural sensitivity to own community needs. Growing populations and rising material expectations can deplete limited resources and lead to serious and irreversible ecological disturbances as well as disrupt traditional uses of natural resources.

Feiloa'iga ma sui o le afio'aga o Sa'anapu ma Sataoa i le savali a le Matagaluega o A'oga
CSI team meets the village chiefs and orators to seek the consent of the Saanapu and Stao villages for free access to their mangrove area for research and field study. Seated in the far center is the High chief of the village.		Saanapu Primary School hosted the meeting of the village chiefs and the CSI team.

The Sa'anapu UNESCO-CSI Pilot Project targets two village UNESCO-ASP schools, Samoan primary and secondary schools and the local community in order to protect natural heritage through the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity while, at the same time, strengthen cultural identity through the recognition and innovative application of indigenous ecological knowledge and practice.

Afioga i le Fa'atonu Sili o A'oga susuga Tupae Esera o le ipu mua o le 'ava o le feiloa'iga ma Sa'anapu ma Sataoa i le falea'oga o Sa'anapu
Traditional welcome - kava drink being served.		The Director of Education receiving the traditional kava drink.

The CSI project team comprising of: the Director of Education and Secretary to the UNESCO National Commission; the project coordinator, Peter Varghese; the team members, Dr Asofou So'o from the National University of Samoa, Agafili Tuitolova'a from the Curriculum Development Unit, and Iteri Laitiiti from the Lands and Environment; visited Sa'anapu primary school on 1^st April 1999. We were welcomed by the chiefs and orators from Sa'anapu and Sataoa villages, the head teachers from Sataoa and Sa'anapu primary schools and the school committee members. There was a Kava ceremony and exchange of gifts.

Susuga ia Lagi, pulea'oga o Sa'anapu Primary School ma le susuga ia Fa'aui, pulea'oga o Sataoa Primary School i le aso o le feiloa'iga.		Susuga Peter Varghese o le taiulu o le polokalame o le fa'asao i Sa'anapu ma Sataoa.
Lagi Kelemete, head teacher of Saanapu Primary School, drinking kava.		Mr Peter Varghese, CSI coordinator, drinking kava.

Agafili Tuitolova'a spoke on behalf of the CSI team. He thanked the chiefs and orators, the school committee and the head teachers of both schools for their warm hospitality. He requested the chiefs' consent to allow:

• the schools to visit the conservation area for field trips;
• to share information on traditional management practices;
• team members to visit the reserve area to research and gather information in order to produce books and field trip activities for Samoan primary and secondary school children;
• to write short stories and poems about the Sa'anapu mangrove reserve and its resource use by students of Sa'anapu and Sataoa schools. These will be compiled and printed for the use of primary and secondary schools in Samoa.

Seve and Lauvi from Sa'anapu and Puipui from Sataoa spoke on behalf of the chiefs and orators who gave their consent to our request.

O le taimi o le ta'igasua ma le fa'aaloalo a le nu'u ma le taimi o le folafolaga o 'ava ina ua sau le inu a le nu'u i le 'aumalaga.
Offering fine mats is an important part of the traditional exchange of gifts.		Dr Asofou receiving the kava sticks presented to the team and thanking the village.

By Peter Varghese in Faia'oga 1(2), April 1999

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