During the July holidays, a group of Year 12 and 13 students travelled to Samoa for Marsden’s biennial Fellowship Trip, accompanied by Chaplain Sarah King and Head of Middle School Dianne Smith.

 

The trip offers students a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in authentic Samoan culture, share in the hospitality of their host community and build meaningful relationships through faith, service and cultural exchange.

 

Marsden’s relationship with the village of Safotu, on the island of Savai‘i, began in 2010. Although the trip initially had a strong service focus, it has developed into a reciprocal relationship through which the Marsden and Safotu communities learn from and support one another. It was the Safotu community that first described the visits as “fellowship” trips, recognising that everyone involved receives as much as they give.

 

Photo credit: Isabella Gollan

At the heart of the trip was a holiday programme for local children at Safotu Church. Each morning featured games, singing, dancing and creative activities, including poi and bracelet making, puppets, origami, colouring, relay races, four square and rugby. Poi and bracelet making were particular favourites, and the Marsden group was impressed by the focus and enthusiasm the Safotu children brought to every activity. 

 

Ahead of the trip, the students organised several fundraising activities, including a quiz night at the Karori Taphouse, lolly sales during the school production, a non-uniform day, sausage sizzle and raffles. Together, these raised more than $3,500, which was used to purchase a laptop, guitar, printer, and stationery. These, along with other gifts, were presented to the village of Safotu and used to support the holiday programme and other activities during the students’ time in the community.

Photo credit: Isabella Gollan

In the evenings, the students returned for homework club, where they read with the children and helped with spelling, mathematics, drawing and other activities. 

 

For Ciara, the children’s enthusiasm made an immediate impression.

 

“The most memorable part of this trip for me was how joyful and enthusiastic the kids were,” she said. “Any time we told them about a new activity, they were excited to see what we were doing.”

 

Playing rugby offered another way to connect.

 

“The language barrier didn’t matter,” Ciara said. “We could all do something we wanted to do and play with one another.”

 

Afternoons were spent with host families, giving the students an opportunity to experience daily life in Safotu. They visited family homes, swam at a local swimming hole and learnt how coconuts are harvested, husked and used.

 

Hannah said the people were the most memorable part of the experience.

 

“Everyone was extremely friendly and willing to try new things,” she said. “My host family showed me how to husk a coconut and how to tell which coconuts were still good after falling to the ground.”

 

The Samoan heat was challenging at times, but it also brought the Marsden group closer together as they swam, shared sunscreen and made sure everyone stayed hydrated with electrolytes and fresh, cold coconut water.

 

“I will remember the sense of being warm—literally by the sun, but also on the inside,” Hannah said. “The community we shared through singing and playing is something I can’t describe. It just felt warm.”

 

The students were welcomed with extraordinary hospitality throughout their time in Safotu. A Friday evening fiafia brought both communities together through song, dance and performance, with plenty of hugs and tears as the visit drew to a close. 

 

Ruby described the trip as life-changing.

 

“The children showed us so much joy, love and kindness,” she said. “It’s hard to put into words how incredible this opportunity was.”

 

Ruby travelled with a broken foot but said the care shown by the children ensured she always felt included, particularly when the group went swimming.

 

Faith was woven throughout the trip, with morning and evening prayer providing time for students to reflect on each day. 

 

On Sunday, the group attended a church service dressed in puletasi made for them by their host families. The service was followed by a traditional to‘ona‘i feast, speeches, singing, gifts and an emotional farewell.

 

During the farewell, Sophie delivered a wonderful speech in Samoan, thanking the Safotu community for the trip and the hospitality shown to the group. Her confidence and the care she took to speak in the language of the host community made it an especially meaningful moment, and the Marsden group was incredibly proud of her.

 

For Chaplain Sarah King, the students’ engagement with Samoa culture made this year’s trip especially memorable.

 

“After 16 years of connection with the EFKS church in Safotu, I feel this was our best trip,” she said. “Our students were so engaged, so organised and deeply reflective about their experiences each day. Taking the time to learn a siva, a Samoan song, and for Sophie to deliver a speech in Samoan brought our two cultures and relationships closer than ever before.”

 

The trip also included visits to a cocoa plantation, the Alofaaga Blowholes and a siapo demonstration, where students were able to try the traditional art form for themselves. 

 

Before leaving Samoa, the group had the privilege of meeting distinguished Marsden Old Girl and former Prime Minister of Samoa, Fiamē Naomi Mata‘afa. Fiamē attended Marsden from 1969 to 1975, served as Deputy Head Girl and made history in 2021 when she became Samoa’s first female Prime Minister. She was joined by fellow Marsden Old Girls Pamela Sua (nee Petana) and Vanessa Barlow. The students presented Fiamē with a small gift and spent time talking with the three Old Girls about their experiences and enduring connection with Marsden.

 

2026 Fellowship Trip students with Marsden Old Girls Fiamē Naomi Mata‘afa, Pamela Sua (née Petana) and Vanessa Barlow

The 2026 Samoa Fellowship Trip was a powerful reminder that genuine fellowship is built not simply through what we offer others, but through listening, sharing and learning from one another. The memories will stay with our students long after the trip itself, and we are deeply grateful for the welcome we received and for the enduring fellowship between our two communities.