Change in priorities
MAN WITH ‘NOTHING’ OPTS TO FIX HOUSE FIRST
THE new school term begins on January 19 but Adriu Catanasiga is not rushing to prepare his children for school.
It is not because he does not care about his children’s education, it is because he has “nothing”.
Having lost his home and farm to Severe Tropical Cyclone Yasa, the Votua, Lekutu, villager said ensuring his family had a roof over their heads was priority over sending his children to school.
MY children will start school when I have the means to prepare them.
Adriu Catanasiga of Votua Village in Lekutu, Bua, said this as he shared that Severe TC Yasa left him with nothing.
He said he had not bought any school stationery for his three children because his vegetable farm — their only source of income — had been destroyed by super storm Yasa.
“Right now I am concentrating on fixing my house because the cyclone blew down everything except for the floor,” he said.
“My children will start school when I have the means to prepare them because my vegetable farm that I depend on is gone.
“It’s not easy having to think about housing materials and then preparing my children for school, so I will fix the house first to ensure that we all have a roof above our head.”
Mr Catanasiga has two children attending primary school and an elder daughter at Lekutu Secondary School.
“Even our housing materials have all gone and our clothes as well so we are beginning all over again from scratch”.
He said a few organisations had visited him and asked for information regarding his situation and school needs.
“I just hope they assist us with some form of school stationery, school bags and uniforms for my children because I can’t afford it right now.
“The cost of books for three children will be expensive and their uniforms too so I am placing all my trust in God’s provision.”