Transcript
QUEEN MUHAMMAD ALI - The funding is actually for the construction of the facility that we will be working on, which is called 'Manuia Samoa' and is a health and wellness hub, which means that it's a place where people can socialise in a healthy environment and also because I'm a filmmaker, I'm going to be working with documenting some of the fofo, which is the healing arts there in American Samoa, documenting, archiving so the youth can learn more about the art because it is almost like a dying art on the island only because a lot of the youth are going towards more western medicine, so because it's a natural herbal healing and more like massage therapy we thought that it's important to help archive that history and bring it back because here in the States everyone is turning to natural medicine and becoming more plant base and healthy and so we thought that bringing that introduction back to a way that traditionally a lot of the Samoan people were already having a better diet using natural medicine. For us to bring that back where we can document some of those healers and tell their story of how it was back then and how they are able to maintain healthiness back then, then that would be helpful for the whole island.
SELA JANE HOPGOOD - Will this project bring employment opportunities for people in American Samoa?
QMA - There'll be a place where we're going to be actually hiring youth to not only work there, but to build the facility, so we're bringing our architect out there from off island, but on top of that we're working with local architects and at the same time we're going to be training some of the youth to help build the entire facility there, so they'll have a sense of ownership once it's completed.
SJH - Where does the government stand with this project?
QMA - We've been working with the government and they welcomed us there to help us with that project, so they're in full support. Governor Lolo Moliga and also the rest of his cabinet has helped tremendously in getting this project started by supporting all of our efforts wherever we needed to go out there to do, to speak with other architects, to speak with local youth in the area. They have been so helpful with that and so when you mentioned upskilling, that's definitely and that's something that we spoke to Governor Lolo about and that's why he's so supportive of the projects because he knows that this is something for the entire community to benefit from.
SJH - How long will construction take?
QMA - We're looking at to about a year to a year and a half to get it up and running. Of course it's going to be ongoing, but we're really anticipating if we can to get it done sooner.
