When Samoa changes, then change with it

By Sarafina Sanerivi 06 November 2016, 12:00AM

According Faranisi Raki, from the village of Samalaga, the biggest change Samoa faces is the increasing cost of living.

Aged 49, the hardworking father says that the best way to counter this change is to change with it. Changing the way you work will reward you enough to make ends meet and keep up with the rising cost of living.

Faranisi’s advice to Samoa is to always keep trying.

“If people don’t try then they will never succeed,” he told the Village Voice.

“That’s why I am doing these small things; I am trying to make a little bit of money to take care of my family.”

“I have been growing cabbages for about two months now. I have a son who I try and teach to work like this and as we went along, our cabbages started turning out great so I thought to myself, maybe this is a great way to make money.”

“Nothing brings me more joy than tending my small cabbage patch.”

Faranisi says that the cost of living has reached the point where 10 tala feels like only 10 sene.

“The biggest changes I have noticed is the cost of living,” he said.

“Everything is getting more and more expensive these days. It’s making everything very difficult for everyone but it gives us all the more reason to work harder.”

“If we don’t work harder to match the increasing costs of everything then we will end up suffering more. So the best thing to do is to buckle down and find ways to provide for those you love.”

“There is a lot of dirt we can dig up and grow crops but there are many people who don’t want to. Back in the days when I get 50 sene, it would take me ages to use it up.”

“Nowadays 10 tala feels like 10 sene.”

With his work with the cabbages, Faranisi prides himself on growing 100% organic produce to help make ends meet in this struggling high-priced world.

“Everything is natural and I use no chemicals for farming,” he said.

“I don’t believe in pumping my crops with chemicals. Having natural crops is better and healthier for the people who consume them.”

Faranisi also said that he has the occasional church obligations to deal with. As many may complain that these obligations are becoming problematic, the hard-working father says that this is where the blessings come from.

“In a village setting, it’s true that there are a lot of things we need to do with the church but it’s all in our interests to go through with those obligations,” he said.

“Making contributions to the church will help you and your family a lot because that’s where you receive blessings from. The church also plays a big role in our lives. This is where we learn our morals.”

By Sarafina Sanerivi 06 November 2016, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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