Moving is never easy.

But Aukuso Kelekolio has had to move from Vaitele to Lauli’i for better opportunities. 

The 20-year-old used to live with his father’s family but recently decided to move to Lauli’i for a fresh start. And the move to a village setting brings it’s own challenges.

Challenges Aukuso is happy to accept.

“I am new to this village. I moved here not long ago because I am tired of living the life I used to in Vaitele,” he said. 

“Life in Vaitele is just like life in Apia, you hardly see any Samoan customs there.”

Aukuso is a former student of St. Joseph’s College. He has completed vocational studies but instead of looking for a job, he wants to help out at home.

At Lauli’i, he performs a range of chores, from working the plantation to cooking food. 

He was on the way to the plantation yesterday when the Village Voice caught up with him.

Aukuso said he admires the fact that the village has a range of community activities. 

“When I was in Vaitele all I did was roam around, joined youth gangs, walked around at night with my cousins.

“But with here, it’s a different story, I hardly go out because I heard a lot of rumours about this village, so for that reason, I’ve joined the youth group as my first step of adapting to these new experiences.

“To be honest, getting involved in youth programmes and village activities has made me realize that there is purpose in life.

 “In town areas, youth join gangs and waste their energy on things that are not important in life; I mean, there is no future there at all

“I’m not saying this to everyone, this is basically from my own personal experience.”