Grandmother of four, Varanisese Vaka, is the breadwinner in her family.
The matriarch became the sole provider after her husband and children were laid off from their workplaces in March.
And she meets their daily needs by selling vegetables and root crops at the Nadi Back Rd, alongside neighbours who recently lost their jobs.
“My husband was working for the construction company that was building the new Nadi Police Station but he was sent home after they stopped work,” she said.
“My son and his wife were both working at the Westin Denarau and they are also out of work.
“Unfortunately, he had to move his family to a village in Ba because it was getting difficult to take care of everyone.
“They have three children and we had to make the decision because we didn’t have enough.”
Ms Vaka said she now took care of her husband and a daughter who attends the University of Fiji.
“Sometimes she asks me for bus fare to school but I tell her ‘I didn’t sell enough today’.
We are living each day as it comes.”
