Parents sacrifice for children

By Seia Soloi 08 February 2017, 12:00AM

We work for our children.

That’s Faamanuiaga Faamuamua’s simple philosophy in life. 

The 35-year- old mother of six children from Tuanai sells vegetables and crops from their plantation.

Sometimes the sales are good. Other times it’s a nightmare.

But she has learnt to be happy with whatever she makes. What she enjoys about her role is the flexibility.

Like many mothers in Samoa, she has to drop off and pick up her children from school everyday.

 “My husband is the only one who works for the welfare of my family,” she said.

“The money he makes pays their school fees, electricity and water bill and of course helps to provide food every day.”

Faamanuiga said she is a strong believer in education as a way out of poverty.

 “All of my six children attend school.” 

“Even though we are struggling but our first priority for the sake of our children’s future to be bright is their education.”

“We hope they will grow up and have a better life than ours.”

Faamanuiga said her husband sometimes get $200 a week.

“But that money disappears quickly when you have a family of eight,” she said. “The cost of living is very expensive now and we have to try our best to make ends meet.”

But that doesn’t count the daily faalavelave.

 “The money he gets can’t afford everything in our everyday needs when it comes to family faalavelave, village matters and church donations,” she said.

“That’s where we depend on our vegetable garden and crops to sell to get some money for the next day so we can have enough food to feed the kids.”

Inside their village, life is peaceful, she said.

 “All I would ask the Government is to please fix our road, water and lights. As of now, we’re the only family that lives as far away as the others.”

Faamuamua believes whatever challenges people face, they have to find a motivation to keep going.

“For me it is my children,” she said. “Put our kids’ needs first and then their future will be bright.”

By Seia Soloi 08 February 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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