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Preventing violence through Atu-Mai

This story was written by Innes Logan and published in the Spasifik magazine September 2018 issue.

In July Le Va and ACC launched Atu-Mai, New Zealand’s first national violence prevention programme for young Pacific people. The programme has inspired Fuluiole (Yole) Lelaulu to share her story.

Fuluiole (Yole) Lelaulu is a survivor of physical, mental and sexual abuse. It led to an unstable environment for Yole and two of her siblings moving from house to house and going through experiences that disconnected her from her faith, cultural identity, and a sense of self.

Moving between schools, she found that the trauma experienced as a child kept her from focussing on education and led to her decision to leave her law and media studies at the University of Auckland. However, it wasn’t until leaving this environment where her healing could begin.

Fuluiole (Yole) Lelaulu: “It’s really empowering and given me the confidence to speak among our elders, rather than sit in silence. There’s too much silence. What we need is more love, engagement and understanding.”

“I enjoyed Otago as I found I worked better being away from the family, finishing my degree in three years,” says Yole.

On returning to Auckland at the start of the year, after securing a BA major in communications and marketing, she looked for the opportunity to work with youth, wanting to focus her passion in helping them to manage distressing situations.

“I’m very passionate about it because being abused really affected my life and I thought I’d never get out of it. I went off religion and was totally against fa’a Samoa (the Samoan way of giving and reciprocity),”she recalls.

“But being involved in the Atu-Mai programme strengthened my cultural identity, especially as a New Zealand-born Samoan. Focusing on the core values helped me appreciate it and understand that abuse is not part of our culture. It’s inspired me to believe I have the strength and experience to make a difference.”

Yole’s belief in the Atu-Mai programme is based on more than two years of extensive research.

Key findings include that 76% of violence relating to Pasifika young people is not reported.

“Low reporting of violence limits our understanding of harm in communities and can mask the extent of the problem,” says Emma Powell, ACC’s acting chief customer officer.

“We know there are cultural factors that contribute to low access to help Pasifika young people.”

Le Va’s research identified underlying conditions, risk and protective factors for violence that are unique to Pasifika young people.

“Violence can scar the lives of individuals and families for decades,” says Le Va CEO Dr Monique Faleafa.

“This new service is a violence prevention programme that supports young people to be confident and resilient and experience healthy family and social relationships.

“Atu-Mai focuses on enhancing factors that provide protection from violence and reduce the likelihood of being a victim or offender in the first place. Atu-Mai is not a campaign. We’re taking an educational focus and skills-based approach aiming for behavioural change across generations.”

For Yole, being involved in the Atu-Mai programme and sharing her story has been invaluable.

“I’ve been to lots of gatherings where people open up and share their stories, but nothing happens,” she says.

“But Atu-Mai’s about bringing change. The Aunty Dee and Atu-Mai apps are engaging with our youth. They’re learning to do things they nevergrasped at school such as journaling, enhancing problem-solving skills and activating culture.

“It’s really empowering and given me the confidence to speak among our elders, rather than sit in silence. There’s too much silence. What we need is more love, engagement and understanding.”

Yole Lelaulu

Check out Yole’s interview on the Newshub here

Preventing Pasifika Violence

Addressing the high rates of family violence and sexual harm experienced by Pasifika young people, alongside low rates of reporting of such behaviour and access to existing health and social services, prompted the launch of Atu-Mai, New Zealand’s first national violence prevention programme for Pasifika young people launched in July by ACC and Le Va.

Following more than two years of research, Le Va CEO Dr Monique Faleafa and her team have identified the underlying conditions, risk factors and protective factors for violence, that are unique to Pasifika young people and differfrom the risk factors for the general New Zealand population.

“Violence can scar the lives of individuals and families for decades,” says Monique.

“When our young Pasifika people are exposed to violence, they are at increased risk of a range of behavioural, physical, emotional and mental health problems, including being at higher risk of suicide and a victim and or an offender of further
violence.”

She describes the new service as a violence prevention programme that supports Pasifika young people to be confident and resilient, and experience healthy family and social relationships.

Le Va CEO Dr Monique Faleafa: “When our young Pasifika people are exposed to violence, they are at increased risk of a range of behavioural, physical, emotional and mental health problems, including being at higher risk of suicide and a victim and or an offender of further violence.”

“Atu-Mai will focus on enhancing factors that provide protection from violence and reduce the likelihood of being a victim or offender of violence in the first place,” adds Dr Faleafa.

“We want to equip Pasifika young people and their families with the right knowledge and tools to live free from violence and sexual harm. Atu-Mai is not a campaign. We’re taking an educational focus and skills-based approach aiming for behavioural change across
generations.”

Le Va will work with ACC, Pasifika young people, community groups, their expert advisory group and other organisations toensure a coordinated approach.

“We know that we all need to take collective responsibility andwork together to tackle this challenge head on, and we’ll becomplementing existing programmes and reinforcing supportservices to ensure prevention at all levels” says Dr Faleafa.

“Atu-Mai will be measured and evaluated over time to ensure thedesired outcomes are met.”

For more informationabout Atu-Mai go to www.leva.co.nz

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