Contented with life on top of the Tiavi hill

By Seia Soloi 15 March 2017, 12:00AM

Fourty-six-year-old Apelu Peni of Tiavi is a hard working father. 

As a farmer, he provides for his three children and his wife’s parents who are living with them.

No one from his family works. 

Their livelihood depends on the plantation.

“There are seven of us,” he said. 

“None of my kids attend school. What we do is care for our children and my parents-in-law.” 

“The plantation is my life every day. I work on my own as you can see I’m the only male of my family.”

The fruits of the plantation are sold and the money from there is used for their daily needs.

 “This money is for water and electricity bills only but on some weekends we do some shopping for our basic needs.”

Apelu said his family lives a simple life.

He also knows the cost of living is expensive but he doesn’t complain.

 “Our family moved here to develop ourselves,” he said.

“We have a plantation and that’s a good start. The only thing we need every day is some sugar and salt but we have everything here.”

Since they moved to Tiavi, everything has changed for him and his family.

“Living here is safe and peaceful for my family. We all know that Apia is over-populated, has air pollution and the like.”

“But moving here is beautiful for us because of the environment.”

 “Especially we have land to plant taro and banana on, there is enough space for everything and we feel the nice breeze every day.”

By Seia Soloi 15 March 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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