Man capitalises on opportunity

By Fetalai Tuilulu’u 29 June 2017, 12:00AM

Make the most of the gifts you have.

Whatever that is, you must work hard to ensure you are blessed by it.

For Tele’a Tele’a of Faleasi’u, its making brooms from coconut leafs and selling them.

When he caught up with the Village Voice team, the 28-year-old was covered in sweat and dirt. He had been carting brooms on his shoulder all over town to sell them.

 “If walking around all day is what it takes to earn money then I don’t mind,” he said. 

“It’s been two years since I’ve started this business and it has helped my family a lot.

“I’m a father of four children and two of them are schooling and this is how I support them.”

Tele’a used to work at the Samoa Airports Authority as a cleaner. When he stopped working, he said he wasn’t sure what to do.

“Where do we go from here?” he said he asked himself.

 “How are we going to cover things and eat without a steady income?”

It was then he realised the potential of the coconut tree. 

“It was there and it was available so I thought why not?”

Tele’a sells the salu tu (tall broom) and salu (short one) for $10 and $5. He said he makes good sales some days. 

“Despite how tired I am from walking around town, I still consider this work quick money,” he said.

“Every day I sell brooms I returned home with nothing left. I earn almost $100 a day. 

“When I think about it, these simple things weren’t considered as an income earner back in the days. I mean no one would sell brooms around Apia, it was mainly taro that people wanted but today, even brooms can get you great money.

“My point is that everything counts. We just have to work hard to make sure we benefit from them.”

In terms of changes, he said he has noticed a lot.

“It’s not bad changes. People get to live palagi lives but we get to benefit from it because we can work to provide for them while they give us money. There is always an opportunity in everything.

“I also know nowadays some families would rather spend money on buying things they want like brooms because they can’t be bothered making it. And that’s fine by me. It gives me an income.” 

Tele’a also offers his help to clean and maintain land if anyone wants. He can be contacted on 7753529 if you are looking for a broom.  

By Fetalai Tuilulu’u 29 June 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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