Miss Samoa shares her passion for books

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 30 September 2017, 12:00AM

Miss Samoa, Papali’i Alexandra Iakopo, was the special guest for the Samoa Stationery and Book’s (S.S.A.B) Book Fair yesterday.

Papali’i is an Ambassador for literacy in Samoa and her role yesterday was to read the young children present.

“It’s an important event that allows me to connect with the kids from a young age to build their confidence in reading, especially in English or Samoan.

“It’s also about strengthening the Samoan side because I really do believe that if we strengthen these two aspects of the language for our kids they will grow and have a better understanding. 

“I enjoyed interacting with them. It’s not just reading, we can also connect with them. This is important because it’s building the kids’ confidence in reading from a young age and we can easily motivate and encourage them.”

Papali’i said the Book Fair is an excellent idea. 

“For S.S.A.B. to come up with such initiative is very important and it plays a big role in promoting literacy in Samoa.”

So as an Ambassador for literacy, how has reading developed her from a young girl to the Miss Samoa?

“Reading played a big role in my life growing up and English was one of my strengths,” she said.

“I noticed that while doing stories in my Primary School years it was the only thing that I was able to pick up and I enjoyed it a lot to the point where my first book that I got was in Year 5 which I still recall it was “Finding Nemo” before it was turned into a movie.”

She encouraged parents to spend 15 minutes of their time to read to their children.

“The Bible is also an important book to read. It brings out the aspects of the fa’asamoa and everything so I urge you to bring your kids to these kinds of events to help them with their confidents in reading.”

Sales Manager, Dora Tuiletifuga – Malele said the Book Fair is to develop the kids passion to read.

“We are working with S.E.I. and also Alexandra as an ambassador for literacy to promote the cause. It’s good to have positive role models whom young people can look up to.

“As you can see Alexandra is such a lovely person and she also has the passion to promote literacy in Samoa which is why we enjoy working with them.”

By Deidre Tautua-Fanene 30 September 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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