Autalavou Mo Taeao

Is an opportunity started on facebook for Samoan youth around the world to talk with each other about the issues of youth in Samoan Society and also to express their views about the importance of youth political participation in the decisions made about Samoa now and the future of Samoa.

I believe Autalavou Mo Taeao(AMT) promotes the issues of the younger generations, male and female, in Samoan Society. In our Samoan fa'a-Matai, young people are "seen and not heard". Even young people who are married with children they are treated like they are not allowed to have an opinion. Perhaps this is why young people are getting in and getting on the register for Matai. I would like to think that Samoa has moved forward and more mature than the situation of years gone by. Personally, I see the Education system and the Church as change agents regarding this issue in the fa'aMatai. Problem with Church is that majority have embraced the fa'aMatai into the Gospel of Jesus Christ so are more inclined to perpetuate the issue of youth's voice not being heard. Samoa has to educate or finance the eduction of the young to be informed of the world in Samoa and the bigger world that has very powerful forces that easily affect Samoa and the Pacific. AMT hopefully will encourage a forum that promotes freedom of speech and at the same time educational.