A family’s daily struggles

By Nefertiti Matatia 30 January 2018, 12:00AM

Mona Kalifa, from Aleisa, yesterday shed light on the struggles her family faces. 

The sixth child of 12 siblings, Mona spoke about the hardships of having only three people working their plantation to survive.  

“And my family is also seeking help for a water tank and electricity connection.” 

According to Mona, when it’s time to sleep, they tear up boxes, place them on the floor and cover them with mats. This way they are able to sleep as the floor of their house is not cemented. 

“We use cardboards to cover the rocks on the floor of our house,” she explained to the Village Voice team yesterday. 

“Up to this day, we are still trying to fill the floor with rocks and when we can afford cement, we will fix our home.  

“My parents are unemployed and there are six of us and we are still in school, I have four younger siblings who attend Aleisa Primary School, while my sister and I attend Faleata College.”

She mentioned that her parents continuously face financial struggles trying to support them.

Water connection is one of the biggest issues that their family faces. Mona said they stored water using gallons, especially when it rains. 

“This way we are able to carry out different tasks in our home, such as washing the dishes.

“It is only when it rains when we will have water, if it does not rain, we are out of luck and we have to ask someone for help. 

“We wait mainly on the rain so we would be able to have water to make food,” she added.

She says the bus cannot reach their home because of the road condition and they live far away from the bus stop.

She understands the pressure her family undergoes every day because of the cost of living, which is why she is determined to do well in school to support her family.

For anyone willing to help  Mona’s family, contact the number 7784137.

By Nefertiti Matatia 30 January 2018, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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