Reupena values life as a farmer

By Aruna Lolani 28 June 2017, 12:00AM

Working as a farmer is an amazing thing. 

It means that you’re one of the few people that still care about the Samoan way of life.

So says Reupena Unapo from Falefa and Palauli, Savaii.

Reupena, 47, is a father to six children and only three of them are currently attending school.

When speaking to the Village Voice team, Reupena said he works together with another man from the village to look after an animal farm that belongs to one of the villagers.

“Life is good for me and my family because I consider myself as someone who works hard,” he said.

“My work as a farmer is going great; in fact it is one of the hardest jobs in the world if I think about it.”

“But I value it because not only it provides me with money, it provides me with food but also it reminds me of my culture; my Samoan way of living.”

Reupena stays in the inner village with his family which is not that far away from the farm he works in.

“To me, this job can be easy but it can also be the most difficult at times.”

“Because you’re looking at work such as; cutting the grass, maintaining security fences and also making sure the animals are safe and well.” 

“For me, we always have to keep an eye on the cows inside here because if they go out, there’s a possibility that we won’t find them or worse, get run over by vehicles.”

Reupena has been doing this for two years.

“This work is important to me because this is all I have; this is what I know and this is what I can do.”

“I can’t do any other job because I have some issues with my health.”

“And to me, it’s important to have a job and it’s important to work because how else are we going to survive if we don’t?”

By Aruna Lolani 28 June 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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