Martha Taumata Faavae
Pelepetise Fomai a young mother pays tribute to her village’s Women’s Committee on Mother’s Day.
The Women’s Committee to her was the informal school which taught her skills enabling her to earn a living and for that she is most grateful.
The eldest of eleven (11) children ,the 25 years old, formally educated at Aufaga Primary School, Lepa and Lotofaga College and made it to the National University of Samoa NUS but quitted in her first year.
“ It was my own decision to leave because my parents did not have the money. I feel for them.”
Out of formal learning she decided to join the Women’s Committee in her village. There, she learnt skills and knowledge which she now uses to earn a living for her and her family and her parents.
The Women’s Committee was an eye opener for her.
“ It was a turning point of my life for I learnt the importance of the Women’s Committee to the life of a young Samoan woman if she joins it,” Pelepesite told Newsline.” It gave me the opportunity to learn that what the Committee offers is important to the building up of women in the village and contribute to the development of families and the village.
“ It is a school to learn the art of weaving skills in mats, fine mats and also growing vegetables and doing other things useful for the development of the family. I also found out how important the Women’s Committee is to the development and the well- being of the village.
“These I apply to develop my own family and I feel so grateful.”
Weaving fine mats and other kind of mats and selling them is now a source of income for Pelepesite and her family. “The fine mats and mats are sold online but there are times people in the village would turn to ask if we have any and we would make a quick sale there. Orders are also placed with us for mats and currently we have an order for 10 mats ( papa laufala) at $50 tala a mat. That will be good money for us for Mothers Day.”
“ Weaving fine mats and other mats is now a source income in our family. Now we could afford things to develop our family.”
With the skills she learnt at the Aufaga Women’s Committee Pelepesite is now helping to support her mother and family in addition to her own two children.
Pelepesite also pays tribute to her mother whom she describes as very hard working. Her daily routine starts at 5:30 am with a devotion and would complete most of the household chores before everyone is up. “ Her explanation for doing this is she wants to get things done before it gets too hot.”
“ My mother does everything. She performs the role of the father and the mother without a complaint. She would only speak when we do something wrong.”
“ My mother works the land and fishes so that she could provide for her children.
Pelepesite and her husband are stepping in to help her mother whom she feels is waning in strength.
Pelepesite admits that it is not smooth sailing for their family financially all the time. Money sent from her mother’s sister in New Zealand would help out sometimes.
On Mother s Day Pelepesite reflects that a mother’s role in the family is pivotal and challenging.
“ A mother never rests for she is always thinking of the means of supporting the family.When things go well in the family the mother is commended when things go bad it is the mother who is blamed.”
On this Mother’s Day Pelepesite’s is thankful to the Lord for blessing her with a husband and two children.
