An elderly mother is appealing for help to fix a roof that leaks upon her and her four children every time it rains.

Paulina Sio has lived in a Samoan traditional house at Samusu for more than five years with her children. But the 67-year-old said that because the roof is made of coconut leaves, it leaks during rainy days.

“There is no one employed in my family which is part of the reason why we face financial difficulties,” she said.

The mother-of-four said that in terms of daily survival they depend entirely on their plantation and her pension.

“My daughter and her husband tend to our plantation to provide a source of food supply but monthly when I get my pension it is used for village and church commitments.

“We have hope of fixing the roof by purchasing iron roofing but, in all honesty, we cannot afford.

“I am very grateful that there are times when we get assistance from relatives overseas but I am well aware that they also have families to look after and so they always assist when they are able to do so.”

Another concern the family faces is water.

“We are able to get a supply of water from a village water scheme belonging to Tiavea, but it has been three months since our water has been disconnected. We are grateful for the fact that it is free and we do not pay any fees but we are struggling without water.

“My children are tasked with carrying buckets to fetch water to use for our daily needs from the village of Amaile. 

“It has been a great inconvenience for our family to not have any access to water.”

She also said that their family lacks kitchen utensils such as an oven.

“We cook our food outside without an oven or stove but it becomes problematic when it rains.

“I am very disappointed when our village received water tanks and I was not included in the list; they should give priority to the elderly people.” 

If you are willing to help the family of Ms. Sio please contact the numbers: 7236837 and 7225606.