Good Samaritans have come to the rescue of a family whose life challenges were featured in the Samoa Observer’s Village Voice page in April this year.

Faleulu Ioane shared his family’s daily struggles such as electricity and water issues while facing an uphill battle to find building material to make their home safe during extreme weather.

The father of six and his wife lived in a Samoan traditionally built house for more than a year at Fusi in Saoluafata.

But the family’s prayers were recently answered when they were gifted with a new home, thanks to the Band of Uso's (B.O.U.), which funded the building of a new house through the fellowship group’s B.O.U. Loto Alofa Community Outreach Projects.

The B.O.U. is a fellowship of men and women with a common goal to live and promote healthier lifestyles.  

A statement confirming the group’s intervention to assist the family was posted on their official Facebook page on Thursday.

“The new home was for local resident Mr. Faleulu and his family and was officially handed over in the beginning of October,” the Facebook post reads.

“The structure of the new home is based on [Adventist Development Relief Agency] A.D.R.A. home design that they have been using to provide homes for vulnerable families across Samoa.”

The family's new house was built alongside their old traditionally-styled family home.

The B.O.U. also acknowledged the work of the A.D.R.A. Samoa Director, Su’a Julia Wallwork and her team from for their assistance, which the group said enabled them to make a dream become reality for Mr. Faleulu and his family.

“In addition to building on its healthy lifestyle programme of the B.O.U. 6 Weeks Health Challenge, the team from B.O.U. are also firm believers of giving back to the less fortunate through it’s B.O.U. Loto Alofa Community Outreach Projects.

“B.O.U. aims to continue partnering with like-minded individuals and organisations, through its community outreach projects, to help families throughout Samoa who are in need," their social media statement reads.

In a previous interview with the Samoa Observer, Mr. Ioane said that he struggled to find building material for their house in 2019, and his family moved into the property in 2020 when it was completed. 

At that time both he and his wife were unemployed and selling coconuts was the only form of income for the family.

“There are days where we go without having any money while normally you are looking at $20 or $30 per week or even less than that,” Mr Ioane said.

“It is hard to try and save some of it because there is always a need but our meals on a daily basis are cooked rice with tea.

“I know it may seem like nothing but we are grateful to God for everything we have.”

At that time Mr. Ioane said he prayed every night for God to give them a better home, especially his young children.

“We have six children that attend school but we also face problems in terms of school fees, uniforms, and other needs due to financial difficulties,” he said.

B.O.U. Chief Executive, Olotoi Joseph Faolotoi, expressed his sincere gratitude and thanked Su’a and her team.

“We know that there are families experiencing difficulties in obtaining basic necessities such as shelter and having a home,” he said.

“This is why we are working together with A.D.R.A. in an effort to help families that are less fortunate.”

Mr. Faleulu said he was grateful to the B.O.U. as well as A.D.R.A. for the collaboration which resulted in the building of their new home.

“I thank God that there are still good Samaritans out there such as B.O.U. and A.D.R.A.  who are working to help people like us who find it hard to make ends meet,” he said.

“The previous home we lived in was an old fale [Samoan traditional house] which was roofed with dried leaves. Words cannot express the amount of gratitude and appreciation for this gesture by Band of Usos and A.D.R.A.

“Now me and my family won’t have to dread rainy days ever again because we have a roof that protects us from the water.”

• Extra reporting by Bethel Peato Ale.