More than eighty female students from schools across the country descended upon the headquarters of the Samoa Observer Newspaper Group yesterday morning.

The students are taking part in the 2017 Girls Leading Our World (G.L.O.W.) conference organised by local Peace Corps volunteers.

The group of students, teachers and parents was led by Peace Corp volunteer, Jenny Nowicki.

They had a session with the Samoa Observer Editor, Mata’afa Keni Lesa, who gave them a run down on the life of the newspaper and what it takes to produce the daily newspaper. 

The students also heard from Samoa Observer’s Online Manager, Jarrett Malifa, Chief Reporter, Joyetter Lumanu, Senior Layout Artist, Terry Tovio and Liz Ah Hi of Dear Tourist.

According to Ms. Nowicki, the field trip to the Samoa Observer was to allow the students to learn about career opportunities in journalism, how articles are written/edited/published, and why the press is important in countries like Samoa. 

G.L.O.W. is a worldwide Peace Corps initiative that seeks to empower women and girls to take their rightful part in society at all levels.

They do this by holding events that teach girls and young women the skills they need to be effective leaders, as well as introducing them to their peers from other villages who can eventually serve as a support network as they progress along their education and job paths.

The themes for this year’s conference are: Careers and Education, Healthy Bodies & Healthy Minds, and Ending Violence Against Women and Children. 

The programme continues.