Starting small and dreaming big
A 66-year-old mother, Fa’afetai from Apolima started off small. As part of the South Pacific Business Development Programme, (S.P.B.D.) programme since 2003, she has ended up employing others in her business.
“It was my dream to have a big company selling a variety of products so I could employ lots of women who need this work, and together we could teach others, too,” she said.
“I started my business with a fishing boat, then buses, Samoan traditional clothes and lots of handicrafts.
“It’s not an easy road to go through and there are challenges along the way but when you believe in yourself, nothing is impossible.”
Fa’afetai said that the idea of running her own business came to mind when her husband died a few years ago. “That’s when I turned to S.P.B.D. “I tell you, there’s hope from this programme; don’t just sit around and wait for what tomorrow may bring.
“I hope to keep improving in my work and have a better future for the sake of my children and family.
“Sometimes we think to ourselves that we are poor and can’t get jobs.
“We need to change that mindset.
“We all know that there are family obligations and every day we need to have food on our tables, and then there are the children at school and many other things that we need to provide.
“So we need to budget wisely.
“There are lots of opportunities for mothers to join in, create small businesses and make a profit.
“Women in our country have lots of choices, and I guarantee that S.P.B.D. is where they need to go to and ask for help.
“This is why we’re here, why I am here,
“For we are the hope of our family, village, church and the country.”