Prominent businessman and the owner of Radio Polynesia Limited, Maposua Rudolf Keil, took time off from his busy schedule to visit the House of Hope Shelter during the weekend.
His visit was inspired after he listened to a radio programme on Friday morning where the hosts on Talofa FM highlighted the issue of domestic violence and its impact on young children.
For Maposua, the issue was not new as it is often talked about.
However, something sparked inside of him, pushing him to visit the House of Hope.
“I always encourage my employees to keep talking about the issue of domestic violence,” Maposua told the Samoa Observer.
“So I made the effort to go and finally visit the place where the children have been staying.”
Maposua was teary at the sight of the young children.
{googleAds}<script async src="http://www.samoaobserver.ws///pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<!-- ads-articles(24.03.14) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-9419815128221199"
data-ad-slot="2395638412"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}
“After seeing these children, I am out of words (to describe my feelings),” he said.
A grandfather with multiple grandchildren – some the same age as the survivors of sexual crimes at the House of Hope – Maposua said he was amazed at how many children are affected by the issue. “My heart cried out when I saw the children because I cannot imagine what these children have gone through,” he said. Asked what he would say to people who dismiss the plight of such children, Maposua encouraged them to visit the House of Hope.
“They will never feel it until they see it with their own eyes,” he said.
“It was the same as me. I never really thought much about it until I decided to go up and can tell you from now on that I will do everything that I can to help out in the shelter.”
The businessman also said the government should prioritise the shelter and the children living there.
“This should be the government’s first priority because they always say that the children are the future of the country, so prove it,” he said.
“Help the children in every way they can and make sure they (children) are okay.”
President of S.V.S.G, Lina Chang, thanked Maposua for visiting.
“You have no idea what today means to these children,” Ms. Chang said abut Maposua’s visit.
“They have been through so much; they have been hurt, emotionally affected because of what they have been through."
“However, your presence here made them realize that there are people out there who care for them so thank you very much."
When Maposua was about to leave, he made a donation to the Home, promising that it would not be his last visit and donation.
<!-- 336x280 (bottom-article) -->
<ins class="adsbygoogle"
style="display:inline-block;width:336px;height:280px"
data-ad-client="ca-pub-2469982834957525"
data-ad-slot="1033882026"></ins>
<script>
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
</script>{/googleAds}