Mālō soifua!

My name is Ruby-Faith and I am a Samoan-Tongan home educator to three boys in Sydney, Australia. Flourishing Fanau is my passion project: compiling and creating learning resources with Pasifika children like mine in mind. Our ancestral knowledge and arts can (and should!) be incorporated into STEM and Language Arts.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I realised that I had two little boys who knew little of their mother’s Pasifika culture and heritage. I began to note down stories my Samoan grandfather told me of his childhood on the island of Apolima. I borrowed Arthur Whistler books about Pacific Island flora to show my boys what was once my childhood.

When I excitedly told my fanau about masi (fermented breadfruit) and sami lolo (fermented coconut flesh with sea water), this was of no interest to them. But a simple glucose fermentation experiment with yeast captured their attention. Suddenly masi and sami lolo was relevant to their experience. This was the first spark of a real connection to their Pasifika heritage.

My hope is to help other Pasifika fanau experience the same!

Thank you for taking the time to read this. Fa’afetai lava!

P.S. As I am still in the process of setting up my site, feel free to message or email me!