Ataogo returns home to serve

Former hospitality sector worker Jale Ataogo finds purpose back home in Tubou. After more than a decade working in the hospitality industry, he has re­turned home to Tubou village, Lakeba in Lau, bringing with him skills he hopes that will benefit his village.

The 38-year-old left Tubou village in 2008, at 21, to pursue an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) course Mod­ules 1 & 2 at the Fiji National Univer­sity (FNU). Setbacks, however, forced him to put his studies on hold.

He then joined the hospitality sector spending 15 years gaining experience in housekeeping and guest services.

"Even though I was working, I still felt empty like there was something more I needed to do," Mr Ataogo said.

Earlier this year, an opportunity through "Veibuli vua na Tui Nayau" (Installation of the Tui Nayau) brought him back to Tubou.

What he expected to be a short visit turned into a permanent return.

Mr Ataogo is now in charge of the vil­lage rest house, which will be used by Tui Nayau during the vakasenuqanuqa on December 18, 2025.

He has also begun teaching young women housekeeping skills, including bed arrangements and guest prepara­tion.

He encouraged young people to con­sider hospitality as a career, saying the industry offered employment op­portunities that could also benefit vil­lage life.

"There are jobs and opportunities there, and those skills can be used anywhere even back in the village." he said

Mr Ataogo said returning to the vil­lage has given him a new perspective after 17 years in the city.

"Not everything in the village is paid for like in Suva," he said.

"Living both lives made me realise that village life is better."

Although he returned briefly for funerals in 2012 and 2019, this year marked his first return with the inten­tion to stay.

He hopes that in the future, Tubou will have rest houses, Airbnb-style accommodation, or even small hotels where such skills can be put to use.

His message to young people was sim­ple: "Take the first step, achieve some­thing, and don't forget to give back to the village".