What We Do
Our Story
Little Vai Foundation was born from the belief that language is more than words—it’s connection, legacy, and love. Founded by a bilingual family of educators, artists, and advocates, our organization began as a small business effort to share Samoan board books with babies. What started as one book grew into a growing movement to uplift early literacy and reconnect families to their cultural roots. We wanted to separate the books from the bigger picture, and so became Little Vai Foundation.
Our Language Policy
We acknowledge and embraces the diversity of languages, specifically, the Samoan Language, recognizing that slight nuances can exist due to various factors such as dialect, writing style, talking style, and regional variations. In our approach to translation, we conduct thorough checks in two crucial categories: literal accuracy and poetic match, particularly when translating original or existing text from another language.
We understand that artistic license, encompassing terms like poetic license, historical license, dramatic license, and narrative license, allows for deviations from strict adherence to fact or form for artistic purposes. This may involve alterations in grammar, language, or the rewording of pre-existing text.
While we appreciate the richness that diverse linguistic expressions bring to our communication, we also acknowledge that accuracy is paramount. Therefore, we will always strive to be as accurate as possible in our translations, considering both literal accuracy and artistic expression. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our language policies, please feel free to reach out to us for further clarification.
Our Name
“Vai” means water in Samoan. Just like water, language nourishes, flows between generations, and gives life. Our name honors the smallest ones in our communities—our little vai—and the deep purpose they carry.
Our Mission
To nurture early childhood development and cultural identity by equipping parents, caregivers, and families with children ages 0–3 with bilingual storytelling experiences and accessible language resources. We honor Samoan heritage and celebrate inclusivity, creating space for both Samoan and mixed-Samoan heritage families to grow, connect, and thrive.
Our Vision
We believe that a child’s earliest language experiences should reflect their culture, identity, and sense of belonging.
We support Samoan and mixed-heritage families in creating language-rich homes where Gagana Samoa is accessible, spoken, and celebrated from the very beginning. Whether you're just starting out or continuing a strong language tradition and simply want familiar, supportive resources for your home, we're here for you.