International Bulletin

Dr. Viopapa Atherton and a teacher dancing the Samoan Siva at the meeting about Children and Long Life.

Children who participated in writing and reciting poems about their ideas of what it takes to give children long life with their school principal Clauwalima Nelina Schmidt.
A very successful and enjoyable workshop to promote the above theme was conducted by one of the pre-schools in Apia, Samoa on 25th November 1999. A prominent member of PPSEAWA, Samoa,

Galumanemana Netina Schmidt is the principal teacher of the Anglican Pre-school and she offered to conduct the workshop in her school of over 50 pupils.

The parents and staff organised a programme which involved themselves the children and their siblings. As in all similar activities in Samoa the morning started with a prayer of thanksgiving followed by singing and items by the children. In between these items there were short presentations by a nutritionist from the Health Department with a demonstration of how to make a nutritious fruit salad using seasonal fruits with a small helping for all; a speaker on infant and child health, and child development/discipline issues.

This was followed with a competition of essay writing and poems written and presented by older brothers and sisters on what they thought takes to give children long life. The ideas raised by the children were most interesting and rather surprising! After lunch during which another Competition was judged for the most appropriate school lunch for a child was held.

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