Vaiala Beach School - Samoa: Introducing Scientist

Introducing Scientist – Amelia

Amelia is a year 8 Scientist who could a future engineer if she chooses to. She explored which tool has more mechanical advantage. This involved between 20 and 30 hours of hard work as she built her own pulley system. Her project was so sophisticated that she was interviewed by TV3. A rather amazing achievement her project was admired by many and Amelia was so inspired by this topic she even lifted a car at home with nothing but wooden planks! Amazing. Her efforts were noticed by the judges and she was awarded 2nd place in the year 8 section.

Introducing Lorraine Williams, Principal.

Lorraine is the reason Vaiala Beach School is what it is today. She first arrived in Samoa back in 1981 with the idea she would be staying a year or two. Instead she is still here and Vaiala Beach School is the result of her hard work.

When Lorraine was asked if she could teach a couple’s son she had no idea one student would lead to five students then ten and then fifty. Before she knew it, the Lorraine Williams School had started and the journey was just beginning. The first location of her school was at Vaiala Beach.

What followed was a series of events that would have seen some people give up. But not Lorraine, even after two cyclones that wiped out the school and its resources, she started again and rebuilt the school in Vailima where it is today. Lorraine speaks her mind and she used this skill to convince the bank that this solo-mother was the right choice to lend to so she could build a new school.

The school slowly grew in classrooms and in students.

Thousands of students have benefitted from one women’s vision – Lorraine Williams.

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Introducing Scientist – Amelia