COMMUNITY ALOHA KEEPS PACIFIC ISLANDER KIDS OFF THE STREETS AND CLOSER TO THEIR CULTURE
Bay Area’s “Camp Unity” thrives on volunteerism and generosity, offering a nationally-coveted program

Visitacion Valley, CA (July 8, 2011) – Where the government falls short, the community is committed to provide. With zero public funding, the Bay Area Pacific Islander community pushed forward to see a dream program through to fruition. “Camp Unity” was launched this summer break, serving 168 Pacific Islander youth, offering what is now a nationally-coveted program.

Brainchild of Hon. Manufou Anoa’i, San Mateo County Commissioner on the Status of Women, the program serves Pacific Islander youth from Bayview, Hunter’s Point, Potrero Hill, Alice Griffith, Sunnydale, Daly City, South San Francisco, Pacifica, San Bruno and San Mateo. Through staunch commitment and firing up a spirit of everyday volunteerism, community leaders and parents took the business of saving lives, quite literally, into their own hands. The program keeps youth off the streets of what has been known as some of the most dangerous urban neighborhoods. Financial hardship in the community has also diminished the number of quality options for many low income families.

“Camp Unity was a direct response to restoring Polynesian culture in our inner city Pacific Islander youth who, for many different reasons, have lost their connection with their ethnic identity. Realizing that there was dire need and not enough resources in our low income families, I went into emergency mode,” shares Hon. Manufou Anoai. “Camp Unity is our community response. We have literally survived these past few weeks on the kindness of the community.”

Led by Anoa’i’s SF Samoa-Pacific Islander Community Partnership’s with board president, Lauaki Jackie Selinger, strategic alliances were made with fellow Pacific Islander/Polynesian agencies such as the Fa’atasi and Mission District Re-Entry Center for Youth, along with student facilitators-turned-mentors from the City College of San Francisco, San Francisco State University and the University of Hawai’i – Hilo.

Many Pacific Islander youth continue to be disconnected from their ethnic identities. Through Camp Unity’s program, they are reacquainted with their culture through Samoan language immersion programs, courses on the Fa’asamoa way (the Samoan way, traditions and history), pacific geography, and Samoan, Tonga, Maori and Hawai’ian performing arts geared towards youth empowerment.

“My kids don’t even want to come home from Camp Unity. They are doing something right because the children get up early and say – ‘Mom, we’re ready to go to Camp Unity,” shares Bridget Badosow, parent of a Camp Unity participant. “My family loves you all.”

“’A’oa’o ia le tama e tusa ma ona ala, a o’o ina matua e le toe te’a ese ai’ is a Samoan biblical verse that means, ‘train a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it,’” quoted Anoa’i. “We are bringing these kids to the core of who they truly are in hope that they awaken their WARRIOR spirits to embrace the MANA (wisdom) that many of them come from.”

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About Camp Unity:
Camp Unity was formed in April 2011 by Hon. Manufou Liaiga-Anoa’i as a community response to a Pacific Islander youth-specific need for low income communities in San Francisco and San Mateo counties. The summer program is culturally-sensitive and awareness-enhancing that provides a restoration of identity consciousness. The program is not publicly funded and successfully launched in its first year, supported by volunteers and private donations. The curriculum, owned by and trademarked to Anoa’i, has now become a nationally-coveted program. Visit http://2011campunity.wordpress.com for more detail.