'97 Fellow Marie Ma'o was concerned about the children of American Samoa. "It's scary for traditional Samoans to see our children acting in a more Western way. They are really bicultural--they're being exposed to mainstream Western ideas all the time. There isn't enough reinforcement for the culture they come from .

Marie's project, translated from Samoan as "Character Counts," was to send a message to all the schoolchildren, teachers, and parents in the territory that their cultural values are important. She and a group including the First Lady (the Governor's wife) and the wives of the Lieutenant Governor, the Director of Education and the Director of Women and Youth went to every elementary school on the island for a celebration of Samoan culture--all conducted in Samoan.

Each school gathered for an assembly at which the dignitaries spoke about the importance of traditional Samoan values. The children presented skits, songs, dances, poetry and artwork related to the culture.

"Our culture is built on respect for the family, and on concepts that can be translated as responsibility, caring, and citizenship," Marie explained. "It's too easy for children and parents to go home and watch Western TV. We needed to remember who we are...Many teachers and parents said they felt renewed. It made them remember how we were raised, and how important it is to speak to the children in Samoan."

The popular project, which reached over ten thousand students, parents, and teachers, will be repeated this year.

"It's too easy for children and parents to go home and watch Western TV. We needed to remember who we are."
- Marie Ma'o