All for her child’s education
SEVENTY-year-old Karolina Bualau moved to Suva to support her child's education. She lives with her son in Toorak. Ms Bualau has been a market vendor at the Suva Municipal Market for six years.
The Savusavu native said being a market vendor comes with many daily challenges. She would wake up around 6am and head to the carrier stand in Suva to buy from farmers. At times the prices of produce would meet her expectations and other times, it would be a disappointment as prices would constantly rise.
She says one of the challenges she faces on a daily basis is when there's less customers in the market.
"Farmers sometimes put their prices up and this is difficult for us vendors as we will have to pay more than the actual prices we budgeted for," she said.
Despite these challenges, she still continues being a market vendor as it is her main source of income.
Ms Bualau said the only reason she enjoys being a market vendor is because it helps put her daughter through school. Her daughter is a final year law student at the Fiji National University. Also it helps her remain financially independent.
This year's International Women's Day, Ms Bualau hopes women can be recognised for what they do — whether they're sitting in the office or on the streets selling.
She said most women are hard workers, waking up early to make ends meet in their homes.
"I want to encourage women to help each other and work together, we are hard workers and we hold the family together," she said.
Ms Bualau encourages other women market vendors to be true to their work, she said if you're true to what you do, only then will the outcome turn out positive.
She thanks her fellow women market vendors in helping each other in times of need.