Hope behind the market stall: A mother’s sacrifice

For Lusiana Mataituvou, every basket of fresh produce sold at the Nadi Market helps secure a better future for her three children.

The 31-year-old mother from Tabalei Village in Magodro, Ba, with maternal links to Natawa Village in Vaturu, Nadi, has been selling fruits and vegetables at the market since last year.

Now living in Nawaka, Nadi, Ms Mataituvou said market vending had become a lifeline for her family.

“I started this business in the Nadi market last year to help my husband, who was the sole breadwinner,” she said.

“This has been a great source of income for my family, and now I can help provide for our children too.”

Each week, she and her husband travel to their farm in the village to harvest seasonal crops before bringing them to market the following morning.

Ms Mataituvou said her children remained her biggest motivation.

“My eldest is in Class Five, the second is in Class Two and the youngest is in Class One.”

“When I think about their education and school needs, I know I cannot give up. I want them to be educated and become someone in the future,” she said.

She said one of the benefits of market vending was the immediate income it provided.

“Other jobs make you wait weekly for wages, but for us market vendors, we sell and earn on the same day.”

“It is such a blessing because we can buy what the family needs straight away,” she said.

Despite the long hours and demanding work, Ms Mataituvou said the sacrifices were worth it.

“Being in the market has supported us in every area of life. As long as my children are cared for and supported, I will continue doing this for my family,” she said.