A 16-year-old girl, whose dream of a normal life was shattered at 13 after her stepfather sexually assaulted her, has been given a second chance to live life.
Tofa* has been adopted by an American couple in Utah and is scheduled to leave Samoa in early November.
She currently lives at the Samoa Victim Support Group (S.V.S.G) House of Hope, a place that has been her home since she was moved there after the incident was reported to the Police.
Although she will miss the love and care of S.V.S.G, the young girl is excited about her prospects in the future.
“I’m so excited and happy to be going to America where I am going to start a new life,” she says.
She is especially excited about getting a new family- and having siblings.
“It’s a chance at having a new life – it will help me in some way forget about the past.”
Tofa was raised by her maternal grandparents. The incident however occurred when her biological mother, who had a new family, asked for her to spend some time with her.
“It is not easy for me to talk about it even now,” she said.
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But going to America means “a new mum, dad and siblings.”
The teenager strongly believes that she deserves the new life that God has planned for her especially after what happened to her.
“Thinking back now, that stuff shouldn’t have happened to me,” she says.
“But I am thankful to S.V.S.G and Lina for her care and support that helped me get through the pain of what happened to me – thank you for helping me go to America so I can surely forget about the painful past.”
Tofa also expressed love and gratitude to her grandparents who cared for her before the incident happened.
“I will miss them dearly and to be honest they are the only people in my mind and heart right now. But I don't think about my mother at all.”
The young girl is just one of many supported and cared for my SVSG that have been given golden opportunities to develop their talents, explore a new life outside of Samoa and to leave behind the pain, sorrow and unfair events that have occurred to them.
*Tofa is not the girl's full name.
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