Unemployed mother shares about her life challenges

By Nefertiti Matatia 12 June 2018, 12:00AM

Being unemployed is a challenge and Elena Peniamina knows this well. 

Mrs. Peniamina is an unemployed mother of six from Matautu Lefaga

She has so many things that she worries about and her main concern is her children.

They live in a half built house, using a water sealed toilet and there is no consistent water supply. Mrs. Peniamina has so many plans for her family, but money seems to be the struggle. 

Her husband recently retired from carpentry work and they now rely on the land for survival. Though there are times when she would dream of having a job, there is no one to stay at home and look after her children.

They lived in Matautu for 12 years and it was the beginning of this year that they had to relocate to their other land with her family, which has been hard for them.

Speaking to the Village Voice team, she shared that they are in need of proper shelter because of her children. 

“We are planning to build a new house. All the materials that were used to make our previous house was taken down and moved to another location to build the house that we now have.

“We are starting all over again from the beginning. This is the reason that the roof of our house looks the way it is.

“Half of the roof we use the coconut leaves to cover it while the other side has iron roofing. It is all that we have so we have to create something out of what we currently have,” said the 36-year-old.

 “I have six children and there are four of them who attend school, while the other two are still young. I am never sure what my children would eat for the next day and despite the challenges that we face, we still try to work the land because it is the only source of income that we have.

“The land is helping to provide for the education of our children and also to have something to eat. It is not easy.”

For anyone who is willing to help Mrs. Peniamina’s family, contact the number 7270577.

By Nefertiti Matatia 12 June 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>