Living on my own sweat and blood

By Vatapuia Maiava 08 September 2016, 12:00AM

Selesa Asera, from the village of Sale’imoa was spotted yesterday at her roadside stall.

Aged 52, Selesa was approached by the Village Voice and asked how life was for her.

“Life is great for us out here,” she replied.

Selesa works hard at her plantation to be able to provide for her family and believes that even if you are unemployed, there are many other options for you out there.

“Even though I don’t have a job, I will stay home and work the plantation for vegetables to sell,” Selesa said.

“This is a great way to get daily items like sugar, putting my children through school and buying food. I have four children and one of them has passed.”

 But how long has this mother of 4 provided for her family this way?

“I have been working the land for a very long time because no one in the family is employed,” says Selesa.

“This is the family’s main source of income and it has been this way for a while. I want all the other mothers in Samoa to know that it’s up to you, but laziness will get you nowhere.

“I bring vegetables every day on the road to sell and I make about $60 to $80 a day.”

According to Selesa, Samoa is a country without poverty.

“It’s the fault of the person if they do not have money,” she explains.

“You can’t expect to get something after doing nothing. If you just sit around all day then where is the money meant to come from?”

Even the church has a part to play in the family’s life.

“I am a Mormon and we get a lot of help from them,” says Selesa.

“Whenever my family is in need, they will help us. We have no problems when it comes to giving to the church because we help when we can afford to.”

But living on her own sweat and blood is the way Selesa lives her life.

“The government hasn’t helped my family,” she says.

“I live off of my own strength. I know that I have to take care of my own family and not rely on the government because they haven’t helped before.

“I do support them (Government) though; I like the development that they have done for Samoa such as road works, large buildings and so on.”

By Vatapuia Maiava 08 September 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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