Raijeli Vasau walked home on Friday afternoon. She had spent the day staring at what used to be her work place in Valelevu.

Ms Vasau worked in a restaurant that was destroyed in a fire on Thursday evening in the industrial area in Nasinu Road, Valelevu.

She walked back to her home in the squatter settlement situated along Qarase Road with only one thought going through her head, “will I be able to give my three children a Christmas they deserve.”

Her employer did not pay her for working from Monday to Thursday, before the fire broke out. She used to earn $130 weekly.

Her home is built with corrugated iron, flat iron, plastic sheets and tarpaulin make the walls of the house which has no rooms.

There is no furniture in the house. Just a thin piece of a single bed mattress.

Ms Vasau used to walk to work and back so she could save money for her family needs.

“We had cassava and tea for breakfast. Right now, I don’t know what will be for dinner,” she said smilingly.

“I wanted to buy ice-cream for the children, some food and perhaps a toy or too. But I don’t know how I will achieve that.

“I want to work so I can support my children.”

Her daughter, Oripa Ikapote was at home. She had passed her Year 10 exams and was placed second highest at Kalabu Secondary School.

She said she wanted to continue schooling and had ambitions of becoming a teacher.

Her older brother was in Year 11 this year at the same school while her younger brother was in Year 5 at Kalabu Primary School.

But there is still hope for Ms Vasau as a number of people have contacted the Fiji Sun wanting to assist Ms Vasau.

Feedback: shalveen.chand@fijisun.com.fj