A woman who has 15 children says being involved in the street vending business is the only means getting income for the family.

A number of Salome Paulo's children are child vendors from Leone in Apia. She was one of the participants who attended the Samoa National Action Plan for Elimination of Child Labour.

Accompanied by some of her younger children she was quick to voice her concerns and tell of the economic struggles she encountered on a daily basis.

Leota Lene Leota, owner of Siva Afi Club said he was aware of the family and often met the children who would be selling garlands (ula) in Apia during the evening.

"These children always come to my shop at Matautu, and I ask them to give me the ula they are selling," said Lene Leota.

Mrs Paulo said discrimination for her family and children was something they faced on a daily basis. She said she wanted to understand the English language better.

"We are here to voice our needs. I am a gifted weaver. I can sew. But I can't afford the materials needed to make things to sell," she said.

Mrs Paulo is also the mother of the famous trolley teen whose photo went viral during the Samoa Toa hype last year and was later charged by police for his longstanding warrants of arrest. While Mrs Paulo was in the audience, a student from U.S.P, who participated in the Rapid Assessment Survey for Child Vendors in 2022, mentioned in the open consultation attended by this paper, that there are children whom are vending that also make a lot of trouble in the streets and questioned the parents for such occurrences. 

Mrs Paulo stood up and responded to say that she was aware of whom the question was aimed at.

"I know you are referring to my son, Suliveta, the trolley boy," she said.

"The trolley boy was taken by the police but I will have you know that all his court cases and charges against him were dismissed because of a lack of evidence," she said.

"If you think we don't discipline our children, you should know that we go to church every Sunday. We participate as normal members of the village," she said.

"Having fifteen children is not easy but we are doing our job to make sure they are fed and go to school," she said.

"If you don't believe what I am saying then maybe we should handle this outside," she said.

Gatoloai Tili Afamasaga, a member of the Child Labor Task force, informed Mrs Paulo as well as the filled seated of the seminar room that the purpose of the activity was to discuss relevant and practical actions for the national work plan. She also reminded the participants to be aware not to steer away from the main points of discussions for the day. 

"Please note that the Ministry of Women is not the only ministry that is responsible for the care of the vulnerable communities in the child vendor's encompassing surroundings. The whole country is called into action to face the challenges these children and their families are facing," she said.

"And that is what we are doing today. To find parts and ways to help the children and their families who fall under the child vendor category," she said.

The national coordinator of the International Labor Organization, Laufiso Tomasi Peni said that the child vendors voices will be important during the implementation phase. 

"We will hear more from child vendors when we do more consultations in the implementation phase," he said.

"Things like discussing the bill and ensuring that the activities we are planning on doing suits them," he said.

Issues such as absolute free education for children, the establishment of a child commissioner and the awareness of programs that can help school leavers were some of the thoughts mentioned during group discussions.

as part of the marginalized community. The mother was quick to her feet to verbalize their struggles as random stakeholders took the floor to speak from their professional perspective in relation their organizations. Samoa Observer was invited also to participate.

The mother of fifteen from the village of Leone was accompanied by some of her younger children. The Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labor A.C.E.O (Industrial Relations, Employment Permits, Occupational Safety, and Health Division), Albert Meredith's gave a presentation on the purpose of the day.