Your struggles of today will not determine your tomorrow.

That is the belief of Ulata Pesamino, from Falelauniu. 

Mrs. Pesamino lives in a rundown shack with no proper kitchen. She is an unemployed mother of eight and her children’s everyday welfare is her main concern. 

In their small shack, she lives with six family members and her six other children have moved on with their own families.

They use a water seal toilet and whenever there is torrential rainfall, their home is surrounded with mud pools. 

She was emotional sharing with the Village Voice team the reason they left their previous home in Vaitele was for her children’s future. 

“I want my own children to grow up safe so that they will not be pushed around by others. I have moved away so I could develop a better home for my children to live in,” Mrs. Pesamino said. 

“I want to die knowing that my children are safe rather than living elsewhere being hungry and poor. I have witnessed it with so many families and whenever such occasion happens, I never want to look at the children.”

“I want to struggle now knowing that they are living in their own land rather than being in a place that they would suffer.”

She explained: “No parent want their children to be sad. They all want their children to live happily.”

“Even though we have our own siblings, but they have their own families to look after. They would not have time to even look after your children when you are gone.”

Mrs. Pesamino also mentioned the condition of their house.

“All these materials that are used to make the house are second hand, which is why the roof leaks.”

Having one income earner does not make the cut. 

 “My husband is the only one who works. We want so many things to be done in our home but when we look at the amount of money that we have, it is not enough.”

“This is a good place because we can work the land. We are currently only eating rice because the crops have not yet been harvested.”

For anyone who is willing to help Mrs. Pesamino, contact the number 7729247.