While some people say that life in the village is better than urban life, Teleofa Pe’a Taule’ale’ausumai from Safune begs to differ.

The 56-year-old who resides with her husband, Pe’a Taule’ale’ausumai and children in Safune thinks that life is tougher in the village. 

“Living in the urban area or town area is a lot easier,” she told the Village Voice. 

“This is because it’s closer to all the big companies and government ministries where it can provide job opportunities for our people. 

“That is the advantage of living in the urban area. And as a matter of fact, that is why most of us here in Savai’i migrate to Apia to seek employment opportunities and for better education for their children. “Back here in the village, if you don’t have a plantation, and you don’t have a business, you will not get money. Most of us depend mostly on our families living overseas for money.”

Moreover, she added that people in urban areas carry a lighter load of responsibilities compared to those in the rural areas. 

“This is because they don’t have strong village councils in the urban areas. Therefore, they hardly spend money on village contributions and other stuff. To me personally, I believe that life in the urban areas is easier than the life back here in the villages.”

However, despite all these, Teleofa strongly believes that there is no poverty in Samoa especially Savaii. 

“Poverty is such a big word,” she said. 

“This is Samoa, there is no poverty. Poverty is when you have nothing. No shelter, no food, no water and clothes.

“Here in Savaii, you get food for free from the land and sea. We have plantations, and we depend on the sea for food. We don’t have homeless people here in Savaii, and I have never heard of anyone who died of starvation. 

“Despite all the difficulties we face every day, we live freely and peacefully on our lands, and get free food from our own plantations and also from the sea.”