Manasa Vakaravia’s story is a tale many would be familiar with.
Like many before him, he left his village of Gusuisavu, Naitasiri, and moved to Nadi in search of a ‘good job’ and better education for his children.
Together with his wife and son, Vakaravia lives on a piece of land he bought last year from income earned as a taxidriver.
“Before this, my life was all about farming. I went into farming after I left school in 1995 and I quit farming some years ago because there are a lot of uncertainties. Sometimes there is a market for my produce and sometimes there isn’t,” the 40-year-old said.
“And sometimes when there is flooding, all my crops are spoilt because I live in a low-lying area.
Mr Vakaravia said he never regretted the decision to move to the West because of what he had managed to achieve in the four years at Nadi.
“Over the past four years, while living in Nadi, I have managed to buy a piece of land in Nawaka and built a house on it.
“I’m so lucky that I have a wife who has always supported me, she has always been there by my side and helped me through all the ups and downs in life.
“She is a vendor at the Lautoka Municipal Market and is also part of the South Pacific Business Development Fiji women’s group.
“We manage what my wife earns and also try to put aside some money for the future of our son.”
Mr Vakaravia said the COVID-19 pandemic had affected people in Nadi a lot but he had learned to adapt to survive it.
“During and after the lockdown that was caused by COVID-19, every business in Nadi has slowed down and most of the shops here were closed.”
Mr Vakaravia said he was lucky because he had planted in their backyard garden and the produce was sustaining his family during the crisis.
The father of one said that he would “go with the flow” and look at what opportunities were available.
“My advice to those that already lost their jobs during this pandemic is to keep on looking forward and never lose hope.”
