Take risks because nothing can substitute experience.

So says Iosua Vaotu’ua of Tuana’i and Afega, reflecting on his plan to go overseas to seek a better future.

Speaking to the Village Voice team, Iosua is a carpenter but most of the time, he spends his days at the plantation because there’s barely any carpentry work for him.

The 37-year-old said he’s working on his paperwork so he can go overseas to find a job.

 “There’s nothing wrong here in Samoa, I just need a job but I think there’s a huge decrease in the number of jobs in our country,” he tells Village Voice.

“Our employment system takes a whole lot of time before a vacancy opens up or become available.

“I’m a carpenter but most of the times I can’t even find work to do using my skills but even if there was, once I’m done, then I have to wait for a long time until another opportunity to work opens up.

“What I’ve noticed is, there’s not that many opportunities to work anymore and that’s why I want to go overseas.

“I don’t care what job I find there as long as I find something useful to work for and earn money.”

Lucky for Iosua, he’s still a single man and he can go about his plan to travel because he doesn’t have a family of his own to worry about.

“I don’t know if this plan is a right one but that’s why, now is the perfect time to take a risk.

“I haven’t been out of Samoa before but hopefully there’s a light at the end of the tunnel right?

“And even if it doesn’t turn out okay, then all I can say is, well atleast I’ve tried it. 

“Life is not just about making the right decisions; it’s also about taking risks even if you don’t know what’s going to come out of it.”