WOMEN OF THE ISLANDS - NATASHA VAAELUA
"For us as Pasifika, as Samoans this is the only way we can share our stories: through storytelling."
Samoan Author Natasha Vaaelua has soft launched her very first children’s book named “Leilani's Shop” or “O Leilani ma Iona Fale'oloa”
It’s an English and Samoan bilingual storybook about a young girl making her dream of owning a shop a reality by building her very own fale’oloa out of cardboard.
Natasha Vaaelua’s passion for Teaching began in Samoa where she taught as a Primary School teacher at Peace Chapel Primary School before moving to Aotearoa in 2007.
Now a seasoned early childhood education teacher with 30 years of experience, she has embarked on a remarkable journey during the challenging times of lockdown.
With a passion for teaching and love for children, Vaaelua found herself deeply moved during the challenges of Covid-19. As domestic violence peaked and families faced unprecedented pressures during lockdown, she couldn’t ignore the children bearing the brunt of these stresses. Driven by compassion, she felt the need to do more.
Vaaelua began to offer free online ECE classes as a way to relieve some of the pressure on parents to keep kids entertained 24/7, while also being able to keep the children inspired. Vaaelua would spend her mornings teaching, and her afternoon’s handing out food parcels to those in need in the community. Her generosity and alofa for her community knew no bounds.
This very generosity however, left her with an influx of cardboard boxes from handing out/receiving goods for food parcels.
Surrounded by an excess of cardboard boxes at home, Vaaelua was inspired, expressing, “I really wished parents knew that they could make some fun for their kids with something as simple as boxes”
In her next online class, she used those very boxes to create a pretend shop, engaging the children in imaginative play. Later that afternoon, fueled by her passion, Natasha sat down to pen the enchanting story that would become her book ‘Leilani’s Shop’ / ‘O Leilani ma Lona Fale’oloa’
Reflecting on maintaining Samoan values, she expressed
‘It made me really think of the ways that I can maintain our Samoan values. Because these things are generational that are passed on from generation to generation.’
Drawing from her deep understanding of childhood development and Aganu’u Samoa, she aimed to teach families the art of connection & “talanoa” – the Samoan concept of open dialogue and communication.
“Because it’s Talanoa that brings that value of alofa, being considerate, being kind to one another”
“As Samoan people, we are family oriented people and through Talanoa we share the values of respect and even with the littles ones, 5 year olds - when we treat them with faaaloalo/respect, we won’t have to ask them to respect us because it will come naturally to them.”
The book not only captured the essence of a young Samoan girl’s boundless imagination but also served as a guide for parents eager to connect and Talanoa with their little ones through the Samoan Language and Culture. Vaaelua’s words resonated, echoing the powerful message that meaningful interactions need not be complex or expensive – sometimes, all it takes is a cardboard box and a shared dream.
Currently an Assistant Facilitator for SAASIA, an organization that facilitates Aoga Amata Samoa in Aotearoa - Vaaelua knows all too well that there is a huge need for more Pasifika resources in ECE.
She implores all those inspired to create and storytell to do so.
“For us as Pasifika, as Samoans this is the only way we can share our stories through storytelling. Through Story telling or even reading a book about where we’ve come from and how things used to be”
You can now borrow this book for free from the Akl Libraries Catalogue, or read along today with this recording of Author Natasha Vaaelua
A hard copy launch is in the works!
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By Destiny Momoiseā
Public Interest Journalism funded by NZ On Air