Hard work the answer to hardship, poverty

By Aruna Lolani 30 July 2017, 12:00AM

Poverty and hardship are found in Samoa.

But then so is the case everywhere else in the world.

The only response is to work hard to improve your situation otherwise hardship and poverty will get the better of you.

Fa’aletoa Felise Vai from Samusu shares this view.

Speaking to the Village Voice, the 54-year-old said he is a hardworking farmer. He plants taro and he also owns a cattle farm. 

“As you can see, I’m working on my own. When I was little, I looked at how my parents worked to provide for me and I’ve learned from them because they are hardworking people,” he said.

“Those who are not working are the ones complaining about the cost of living and how expensive it is but for those that are working, they know how it is.”

“A person is poor and has nothing because they are not working. Your wealth comes from your work.”

Fa’aletoa said all his children are working in overseas. 

“I wanted them to live their lives there so they won’t have to face the life I’m dealing with.”

“I told them, if you want good things in the future, you got to work.”

“You know they might not be as hardworking as me if they keep on living this kind of life, and the only future I can imagine from that kind of living is depending on other people and I don’t want that.”

“I don’t want them to want this and that and they can’t get it for themselves.”

“That’s how it is nowadays but the thing about people who are like that, they complain too much about how life is.”

“They don’t work but they always complain and the only thing they get is nothing.”

“My advice is, quit complaining and make use of the earth. There’s plenty of work there.”

By Aruna Lolani 30 July 2017, 12:00AM
Samoa Observer

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