There is no place like home

For 48-year-old mother of three, Luaipou Mulipola, she says young people of today should remember this.

Luaipou lives with her children and some of her nephews under one roof at Siusega. She says young people must value having a home to return to at the end of every day.

“Every day is a blessing for me and my family,” she told Village Voice

“Two of our family members work and provide for our family. They make enough money to take care of us. One of them makes $430tala in two weeks while the other one receives $380tala in two weeks. 

“The money goes towards school fees for the kids, food, water and the electricity bill.” 

But it doesn’t stop Luaipou from working hard. She manages a vegetable garden, which they also sell.

Luaipou knows that some families fight over money but for her family, they are grateful for whatever comes their way.

“I told my family that money is not important because money is the root of evil to some people.

“What’s important to me is peace and happiness. That’s the key to strong families.”

Living a simple life makes things much easier.

“We eat what we get and we get what we work for, as for my family we are happy with anything”

Luaipou added that the cost of living is a challenge but Samoa is not alone.

 “Every weekend, we work on our plantation and it makes me feel happy to see my family working together and to see them happy.

“As a mother that’s what you want in life. We can never be satisfied with money and material wealth but we can learn to be contented and happy with whatever we have.”