A mother’s cry for water

By Nefertiti Matatia 23 January 2018, 12:00AM

In their small shack was Sala Paleono, a mother of one from Lotofaga.

Mrs. Paelono shared with the Village Voice team the struggles they face with water supply. 

Every day her family collects water with only two buckets and a few bottles. 

“We really need water, especially a water tank because we do not know where to get water from, we have just a few bottles which we collect to store our water in. We don’t have a big gallon either to store rainwater,” the 29-year-old said.

Mrs. Paleono mentioned they have been living there for six months and it was very hard for them because it was another additional burden apart from working the land. 

“We moved here in August; it hasn’t been a year yet. We used to live together with my husband’s family, but we moved away because there were so many of us in one house.”

“We always work the land so we can have money to make it through the next day. If my husband goes with his sack of taros, no doubt he will get more than $100 a day,” she added.

She says her husband will be leaving for overseas in February.

“None of us works and my husband will go away on a seasonal workers contract in February and my brother will be coming over to stay with my son and I while my husband is away.”

Mrs. Paleono said her only child will be attending kindergarten this year which is also something they are working towards.

For anybody who is keen on helping Mrs. Paleono’s family, contact the number 7519002.  

By Nefertiti Matatia 23 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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