Photos of The children of Samoa

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The children of Samoa

Samoan children grow up with "fa'aaloalo", respect for the family, the "'aiga", the extended family group of blood and marriage, and from an early age they know their place in the world.

Children in Vaipuna
 
Two brothers
 
Selling mangoes
 
Carrying little brother
 
Girl with her ball
 
Boy of Lotofaga
 
Boys of Malaela
 
Boys in the rain
 
Girls from Vailoa
 
Children from Vailoa
 
Children of Saleapaga
 
Boy with flowers
 
Boy from Falefa
 
Standard 4 class
 
Form 2 students
 
Boys at work
 
Grade 1 pupil
 
Boy with blowgun
 
Friendly youngsters
 
Best friends
 
Studying a digital watch
 
Brother and sister
 
Schoolkids along the road
 
Children at home
 
Girl weaving a mat
 
Painting a post
 
Satitoa school boys
 
Children at Lepa school
 
Boy with his pet dog
 
Going to church
 
Boys from Fagae'e
 
Girls going home
 
Jumping in the pond
 
Boys with iPad
 
Little girl
 
After church
 
Boy from Salua
 
Children of Salua
 
Little Salua girl
 
Playing rugby
 
Standing at attention
 
Playing teacher's role
 
Children of Faleu
 
Boy playing pool
 
Playing a game
 
Playing an iPad game
 
Boys in school uniform
 
Happy kids of Manono
 

Happy and carefree as children the world over, they learn to respect their elders and this may be seen quite clearly when school is out and they board a bus; no matter how full the bus, there is always room made for older passengers climbing on board and it is not unusual to see them quietly moving and sitting on each other's lap; leaving the bus they all drop the fare in the outstretched hand of the driver, who often doesn't even look, it all moves smoothly.

All children go to school and education is provided by the state in tandem with 5 religious missions, all following a common syllabus. The literacy rate is estimated to be 97% in Samoa and children are taught in Samoan in the first four years of primary school and English as well at an early age. Brighter pupils may move to district schools, where the medium of instruction is English, after four years. Their school uniform, especially in the villages, is the traditional "lava lava" and a system is in place to ensure these are clean: for two days all children wear one colour and the following two days another: the one they don't wear should be washed!

Although modernity has come to Samoa, the children don't forget the "fa'a Samoa", its language and culture and the certainty to really belong.