Race Relations
FAGASA Inc
FAGASA – Fa’alāpotopotoga mo le A’oa’oina o le Gagana Sāmoa i Aotearoa / Association for the Teaching of Samoan in Aotearoa. F.A.G.A.S.A Inc. is the Samoan Teachers and Parents Association set up to help maintain and to work for the survival of the Samoan language and culture through effective teaching and learning strategies in Aotearoa. F.A.G.A.S.A Inc. will promote the week through its regions and members, and provide materials (including lessons and word lists) that can be used by schools, media, and other organisations.
History
FA.G.A.S.A. Inc. is an independent, non-profit organisation that nurtures and works to improve the bilingual literacy skills of New Zealand’s Samoan students. Established in 1976, FA.G.A.S.A. Inc. is a voluntary New Zealand Samoan community organisation that specialises in Samoan language. Many of its members have the expertise and resources in the Samoan language to provide education providers and employers with bilingual literacy services.
FA.G.A.S.A. Inc. is an organisation that has worked hard to create an impact on the development and expansion of quality Samoan bilingual literacy where and when it can in New Zealand both in the learning and workforce environments.
F.A.G.A.S.A’s strength in bilingualism is considerable. Its research and conferences have produced some effective learning and teaching styles toward empowering individuals in their academic journeys to attain higher levels of success in Aotearoa, especially in the use of the Samoan language in the classroom.
Projects 2010
FAGASA Conference
FAGASA is holding its annual conference in Wellington, from April 6- 8. The theme of the conference is: Gagana o Faatufugaga (The Artistry of Language). To find out more contact Galumalemana Hunkin, National President.
Samoan Language Week
Schools are encouraged to celebrate this week. Children can have a show and tell of their experiences of things Samoan or being Samoan, parents can be invited to share their experiences in New Zealand and in Samoa. Children can learn school and home-related words and phrases. Samoan songs, chants or poems can be learnt. Contact Galumalemana Hunkin for more information.
Samoan Language Week 2010 will take place from 30 May – 4 June, coinciding with Samoan Independence Day. F.A.G.A.S.A. Inc will focus on ‘O la Tātou gagana Sāmoa i Niu Sila – Our Samoan language in New Zealand’ to fit with the wider overall theme‘O la Tātou gagana Sāmoa’ – Our Samoan language.
Samoan Speech Contest
The Samoan Speech Contest will be held again in 2010. Details will be confirmed closer to the date.