From Savai’i and making sacrifices for the future

By Vatapuia Maiava 27 September 2016, 12:00AM

Parents always walk the extra mile to ensure a bright future for their children.

Whether it’s to put food on the table, pay for schooling or even to purchase a special item they requested, they are no boundaries to what a parent’s love can accomplish.

For Sapi Misa from the village of Tufutafoe in Savaii, he has sacrificed much for the future of his children.

Aged 50, Sapi runs a market stall in attempts to earn a bit of money to look after his family.

“One of my children is currently at N.U.S. right now,” he told the Village Voice.

“We came all the way from Savaii. We are currently living here because of my children’s schooling. I was a fisherman back in Savaii and would come here to sell but it was very far.

“So ever since my children got into N.U.S. we all moved here so I can support them with their schooling. This is what I do to make enough to take care of them.”

For the hard working father, market life has been good for generating a bit of income for the family.

“Coming to the Fugalei market is good because I can earn a little bit of money here,” he said.

“The money is very much needed with the children’s schooling, and other family needs like church, family and village commitments.

“The work we parents do is very important for the moving forward of the family and simply just for taking care of the loved ones.”

With no one working, Sapi’s family relies heavily on the everyday sales at the market.

“There is no one currently employed in our family,” he said.

“This market block is what the family relies a lot on for everything. So you can say that our livelihood is on this table right now.

“On a good day I would earn a little over $100 a day but on bad days then I would only get about $50 a days for the family.

“I also try and make my prices reasonable to help others out.”

But no matter how much money Sapi makes, there will always be those who ruin everything.

“The only problems I am going through right now is inconsiderate people,” he said.

“The head of the Fugalei market constantly tells people that you are not allowed to smoke and litter in here but some people just don’t listen.

“There are so many inconsiderate people in this market place. They don’t realize the impact of their action because if we ruin this atmosphere then it would chase the tourists and visitors away.

“We need to be more considerate about things like this.”

But what’s a good solution to this?

“The best way to fix this problem is for the government to step in,” Sapi said.

“They need to enforce rules against things like this because it affects a lot of people. You smoke and the people around you who don’t smoke will suffer.

“I mean there are many children around this area as well who will be affected.”

By Vatapuia Maiava 27 September 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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