Community Development

At Youth With A Mission (YWAM), community development is not just about projects it is about people. We believe transformation happens when the Gospel is lived out in practical ways that strengthen families, empower leaders, and build sustainable communities.

In the Pacific, and especially here in Samoa, we see community development as walking alongside local people listening first, serving with humility, and partnering for long-term impact.

Disaster Relief 2009

In 2009, a devastating tsunami struck the island of Samoa; YWAM Samoa responded to the crisis and assisted the search and rescue teams. We were involved in the entire restoration process from search and rescue to medical aid, clearing land to rebuild and rebuilding. In December of 2012, another disaster struck. Hurricane Evan hit our island, and fortunately, this time we are ready, able, and more experienced to help the affected areas.

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SIDS Conference 2014

August 2014, announced the beginning of the SIDS (Small Island Development States) Conference. The theme of this conference was youth and sustainable future. YWAM Samoa heavily involved in these meetings with our base leader Usufono Fepuleai giving a presentation on renewable technologies as well as our biogas systems being one of the featured attractions. We also contributed 95%, if not all, of the methane gas (produced from our biogas) for the conference which they used to charge the carts for transporting delegates to and from various sites on the SIDS compound. Our biogas presentation resulted in invitations to do biogas construction and training in Guinea Bissau, American Samoa, New Zealand, and various other locations throughout the world.

A local school came to the base on a science field trip to learn about our renewable technologies while studying climate change and what they can do to help this ever growing problem. In this photo, they are learning about aquaponics.