WUSSA So'otaga 2025

Talofa Lava everyone!

WUSSA will be participating in an Annual Conference, So'otaga which will be hosted in Wellington by the Victoria Uni Samoan Students Association. So'otaga is a week conference where the Samoan students Association from around New Zealand come together to build connections networking, showcasing our traditional practices and celebrating the beauty of our culture, whether it is competitive or non-competitive. 

We're raising funds to help us to attend this big opportunity, for our students to learn, share and celebrate the Samoan culture and also building fellowship with the other Samoan Associations around New Zealand. 

Behind the WUSSA association, we have a core team of 4 amazing leaders:

• Angelina Toeleiu as the President of WUSSA 2025
• Shemaiah Sinafa Ioapo, who is our Vice - President
• Caroline Vaamainuu, as our Secretary
• Melerita Angellisa Malaulau McGaughey, as our Treasurer.  

We each work together to achieve the values and goals that WUSSA has as a group. Making sure we build a good environment that welcomes all students to come and be apart of expressing the beautiful culture of Samoa through events that we plan during the Year. 

WUSSA hope to raise funds through this campaign to get some support from within and outer community who is willing to help us make it to So'otaga. Your support in helping us raise funds will go towards costs of : 

• Our Journey / Transport to So'otaga (Wellington) and back.
• Tutors and Band Members.
• Our Sower / Uniform maker. 
• Materials to make our uniforms
• Cultural Wear 
• Props

This conference offers our WUSSA students a valuable opportunity to showcase and celebrate Fa’a Samoa through traditional dance, language, and knowledge, while building leadership, teamwork, and public speaking skills that will benefit them academically and personally.  To be apart So'otaga is another opportunity to allow our students to fully express their passion for performance and who they are as a Samoan. 

There are many students who join WUSSA, because they were not fortunate enough to grow up around learning how to speak Samoan, dance and learn about who they are and their heritage. There are also students who are straight from the Islands who left their families to study here in New Zealand to get a better education. Our goal as an executive team, is to encourage our students to feel like they belong and connect with our motherlands without even being in Samoa. Being apart of events like So'otaga, will help them to either connect with their culture more or making it feel like home.

Supporting and helping to raise funds for WUSSA to attend So'otaga is an investment in cultural preservation, youth development, and community pride. For many of us University students, financial barriers may prevent participation, and community support ensures equal access to this transformative experience. Their presence at the conference represents not just themselves, but their families and wider Samoan community, fostering a deep sense of pride and visibility. Backing them through fundraising shows true Alofa (love) and Tautua (service), strengthens intergenerational ties, and reminds young people that they are part of something greater.