Review of the rural/urban development program of the YMCA of Western Samoa

Special evaluation covers the period 1978-3/84; no methodology is noted. Substantial progress has been made. The YMCA has legally adopted a constitution, registered as an indigenous private voluntary organization, and put a professional staff in place. Thirty-two YMCA clubs have been established, with a total of 2,100 members, and a headquarters building and training center has been constructed in Apia, the capital. Many training targets have not only been met but exceeded. Some 235 urban youth have received training in job-seeking skills (vs. a targeted 120), while 75 urban and 20 rural youth have been given carpentry training (vs. targets of 60 and 40, respectively). A 6-month course in motor mechanics has been offered to 40 youth; 12 others took part in short courses (vs. an overall target of 24 youth trained). Also, 13 trained mechanics, 5 of them from rural areas, received upgrade training. Some 242 rural small engine owners (50% of them women) have been trained in repairs (vs. a target of 100), but only 256 rural farmers received management training (vs. a targeted 500); the latter program haa been delayed due to farmer trainees' slow repayment of loans. As for the project's agricultural production goals, taro, cocoa, and kava production involving 1,802 rural people have increased by 166%, 90%, and 242%, respectively, far exceeding the planned production increased of 25+%. Local YMCA clubs market the surplus production for overseas export. Several programs and studies not included in the 2-year development plans have also been conducted. Among these are: (1) training of 37 would-be migrants to New Zealand; and (2) studies of the high suicide rate among Samoan youth, the educational and social situation of street youth in Apia, and the need for courses in construction supervision for men and in small business management.