Meet To’afa Pili, who is a mother and also farmer.

The unemployed 44-year-old lives life with many concerns and living in a rundown shack is just one of them. She says stray animals usually ruin her plantation. 

Mrs. Pili has only one child and her main source of income is the crops that she sells. Both she and the father of the family do not work.

She told the Village Voice her husband is not in the country because of family commitments in American Samoa and she has to stay at her husband’s place at Tafagamanu. 

Their plantation is their only source of income. 

Mrs. Pili’s problems do not end there. Iron roofing is used as a fence around their house, but she is grateful that they have awater tank to cater to their needs.

Though the foundation of their home is cemented and they have tarpaulins that surround half of the house, it is still not safe. 

They are in need of a proper home. 

“This is our house that we have built so that we could live close to our plantation. No one in our family works. We live off the land and this is our way for providing for our family’s needs and my daughter’s education,” Mrs. Pili said.

She has so many wishes of rebuilding a proper home but money talks, she said. 

“Every time we sell our crops, it usually reaches $100. It all depends on how many taro patches we sell.”

“I  am currently trying to work on the land that we have but I cannot rush the process of harvest. If my crops are good then people will buy again from me, which is the reason I am patiently waiting for that day.”

“We are always looking into possible ways to earn a living. The plantation is life to us and we are doing all we can to sustain it.”

For anyone who is willing to help To’afa and her family, contact the number 7757991.