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My Samoan experience

The purpose of my immersion was to join to Cagliero team and travel around Samoa to work with the youth throughout many Salesian communities. We met with three different youth groups during our stay and introduced them to a range of activities and games which we commonly play in Australia.

We began our journey on the island of Upolu in where we spent our time with the youth group at St Michael’s Parish.

The Cagliero group organised rotations with the youth group which included AFL, music, arts and craft and a Literacy station. It was overwhelming to see how excited they were to sing songs together, play Literacy games and experiment with chalk, stickers and paddle pop sticks.

The St Michael’s group arranged a sport day which began with Zumba at 9am in 35-degree heat, followed by some cultural games- running with lemons between legs, pushing coconuts across the ground with our head, drinking milk from baby bottles, throwing and catching eggs, water balloon volleyball and much more.

We later arrived at Alafua, where I was welcomed by a group of youth members from the Moa Moa Parish. During my time at Alafua, we experienced a cultural day at the Don Bosco Technical School. We learned how to weave baskets and plates using coconut leaves, we made traditional palusami, we cracked open coconuts and made fresh coconut cream. We were then delighted to watch the Don Bosco Siva group perform for us. I look forward to their visit to ÁñÁ«ÊÓƵ»ÆƬ later this year.

We then ventured to the beautiful island of Savaii. Here we stayed in the village of Salalonga where we spent our time with the students of The Don Bosco High School. The students held a sport day for us which involved volleyball and rugby, followed by singing and dancing under the stars. It was amazing to see how sport is a large part of their culture. It brings people together from all over the world.

Not only did I learn so much about myself during my immersion to Samoa, but I gained a better knowledge of our Salesians and the Salesian communities around the world. I formed a deeper understanding of the legacy of Don Bosco and I realise what it means towork with the young, for the young.
Ms Christina Venettacci