Father of three seeks help for shelter

By Nefertiti Matatia 31 May 2018, 12:00AM

Samuelu Tusani wishes for a better shelter.

The unemployed father of three from Savaia, Lefaga worries for his two daughters who are growing up and living in a rundown shack for them would be inappropriate. 

For five months, they have had to endure the struggles associated with such living conditions and no stable income.

They do not have a kitchen and they built a wooden shelf outside their home to place their plates on.

Life is hard for Samuelu and his family.

“We really need iron roofing, the house leaks. This is one of the houses that belongs to my family. We have just settled in and we are trying to make a living here.”

“Though we have water, we still need help with the house that we live in. Not only that, it is open and you could tell with the wood that has been used to build the house is falling apart.”

“This house demonstrates that it has been built a very long time ago. We are living within our means and using everything that we now have,” said the 44-year-old.

 “We have just moved here because it is closer to town and that is the advantage of it. My family and I used to live with my wife’s family in Tiavea, Aleipata but we have relocated here to Savaia.”

The Village Voice team found Samuelu working in his plantation. He shared though none of them work in their family; the land is what they rely on the most.

“It is hard to budget and try to save money when we have just started growing crops and there is so much that we want to do but we have children to feed.”

“Both my daughters are in school, the second eldest is in Year 12 while the youngest is in Year 6.”

“As a parent we want the best for our children and apparently it is something that I cannot offer them. My eldest does not attend school anymore, so he is my right hand with planting our crops.”

The cost of living is unbearable but he believes educating his children would help them in the future.

“Our struggles would make them stronger in the future, this is the reason we have relocated here for them to have a better life.”

For anyone who is willing to help Samuelu and his family, contact the number 7297639.

By Nefertiti Matatia 31 May 2018, 12:00AM

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