My Reflections on Christmas and 2023

Talofa lava & warm Oceania greetings. It gives me great pleasure to be sending out our first Christmas message via our quarterly newsletter. As the Executive Founding Director of the Village Response Collective (VRC), I am very proud of what we have achieved in 2023. Since February, we have been fortunate to successfully obtain funding for 4 projects that positively impact our Pasifika communities in the Education, Youth Justice, Health and Community Development sector. My decision to focus fulltime on setting up VRC meant balancing the nonsalaried VRC Executive Director position with pitching for contracts as a self-employed research & project management consultant. Although it has been financially challenging, riddled with uncertainty; it is the unwavering support of family, friends that has gotten me through this year I would like to acknowledge, fellow Founding Director and Operations Lead, Lesa Debra Leauanae-Wally who, despite taking on a new job, family responsibilities & co-parenting their fur-baby Luna, invited me to live with them to alleviate financial stress. Debra has been consistent and committed to the vision of VRC. This in itself is a village model, a legacy that our immediate & extended families continue to model for the betterment of our people and one that Debra & Joe, Luna and Mama Fale demonstrate in love. This leads nicely to my Christmas-Inspo for 2023 which is ABUNDANCE. I once lived in the out-backs of Johannesburg for 3.5 years, where many times we had no running water, limited electricity and food rations. Despite these barriers, I still managed to get through the material lack through the abundance of community, sharing , laughter, spirituality and reciprocity. It is because of my choice to live on the edge of my comfort zone that I have been blessed to see many facets of abundance that are not defined or manifested materially. And so, this definition of abundance resonates in my decision to start the VRC and bring in amazing Pasifika women to inaugurate our first year. It rings louder as I take another step to not take a paying job but have faith and put in the work ethic required to build from ground up with sheer determination and a strong conviction to fulfill the call to serve community. May you know this abundance that eases anxiety despite seeing lack. May you enjoy the peace of this abundance this Christmas and New Year and know that ALL things are working out for your good. Thanks & Many blessings! Dr. Marion Muliaumaseali’i