Sama sells food packs to send daughter to school
Income received from selling food packs at the VotCity Flea Market has enabled a single mother to send her daughter back to school in Year 12 this week.
Eseta Sama, originally from Drakiniwai, Savusavu, was laid off from her job at Paradise Bride, Tour Managers Fiji last month, as result of the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the industry.
However, working a stall at the flea market has helped this mother of three children continue to provide for her children’s educational needs.
“When the school resumption was announced, we complained about sending our children back to school. We decided not to send them for the first week of school,” she said.
“Especially, in Nadi we have been greatly affected by this pandemic and most of us here at the flea market have been laid off or terminated from our work.
“We are finding it hard to cope with the situation of sending children back to school.” She said additional expenses such as lunch, uniforms and stationery were making things difficult.
“It was good before school started; we just had tea with rice for breakfast or lunch with my children. Now we have to provide for a good lunch for them and provide for their bus fare,” she said.
“I have decided to waive my eldest son’s studies at FNU and he might continue next year. I just need to focus on my two other children in primary and secondary.
“This is like starting school again in January. We have to buy new uniforms and school stationeries for them.
“My daughter has put on weight during this time and her uniform doesn’t fit her. Now I have to buy a new uniform for her.” Ms Sama said she was grateful for the flea market and with the income she was able to provide for her family’s needs and support for her children.
Despite her situation she said her faith in God had provided abundant blessings for them.
“It was good that my brother is supporting us, paying our rent and I am just paying our bills and our food,” she said.
“But we are thankful that despite the situation, God has been our provider.”