With every new day, Palasala Fa’afetai, dreams of living a struggle-free life.

At dawn, the 58-year-old, from Leusoalii, heads to the plantation with the hopes of improving his family’s economic well being. 

Both he and his wife are unemployed and they have a daughter who still attends school. 

The father of three expressed his never ending struggle of trying to be put food on the table. 

His eldest son has gone on a mission, while his other daughter looks after her mother-in-law and the youngest daughter lives with them. 

He says with the money he receives from selling cocoa, bananas and coconuts, he saves it for his daughter’s education.

“School resumes really soon and I as a parent feel the pressure as most parents do, to start working extra hard to earn some money to put our kids in school,” he said. 

“Everyday has its own challenges, but nothing could be done when you are just poor.”

“I really need help with my daughter’s school fees; I do not know where to find the money. Giving her bus fare money is one thing, buying her uniforms is another and also her stationeries.” 

“I have so many wishes but there is no money, my daughter eats when she returns home after school and that is the weight that comes with not having enough.”

Mr. Fa’afetai believes in the Gospel and he says the word has been written that if do not sweat, you will not eat. 

For him, working on his plantation alone comes with struggles that he has to deal with everyday.

“Having my son was my biggest help because he was my right hand in all things, in terms of the plantation and sometimes I could just take a break while he finishes off the job or I would just stay home and he would do everything on his own.”

“I never take my daughters because I would rather have them at home to help their mother with the chores in the house, it is what girls do.”