Mother tells of struggles without water, electricity

By Ulimasao Fata 28 December 2017, 12:00AM

One more family without water and electricity is calling for help.

Mother of three, Vaomalo Sauaga, 39, lives with her family at Aleisa-uta.

Speaking to the Village Voice yesterday, she said they would love to have a proper supply of running water and electricity.

 “Here in our family we are really struggling,” she said.

“We don’t have a proper supply of running water for food, as well as cleaning.

“We moved here in early February of last year and since then we have never had access to running water.”

But that’s just one problem.

Another is the absence of electricity.

“At night with no electricity, it is such a scary place to be especially for my children,” she said.

Mrs. Sauaga was doing her normal work at her house when Village Voice met up with her yesterday morning.

Mrs. Sauaga said her family’s livelihood depends on their plantation.

“Me and my husband used to live with his whole family but we decided to move here and develop our own family here.

“Both of us don’t work but we are working our plantation to provide for our family.

“We have planted everything we have on the land and we do our best with what we have. Now we just sit back and wait for it to grow.”

As for life challenges, Mrs. Sauaga said the biggest of them all is the absent of water.

“It affects us so badly especially in terms of water needed for drinking and cooking food,” she said.

“We struggle to fetch water for cleaning, washing our clothes and dishes because of the same issue with water here in our place.

“Up to now the only way to get water here is to wait for rainy days.

The mother said sometimes they have to collect water from their neighbours.

“Most of the families we get water from live far away,” she said.

“To get the water to our house, we have to walk a long way to cart it up here.

 “My children are still young and this is my role. Everyday is a struggle.”

By Ulimasao Fata 28 December 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

Upgrade to Premium

Subscribe to
Samoa Observer Online

Enjoy unlimited access to all our articles on any device + free trial to e-Edition. You can cancel anytime.

>