Life at 8

Life at 8. At 8 years old, all I had to worry about was going to school and studying to get good grades. I swear I did live a life of adventure at 8, building a tree-house or making a secret hideout. My understanding of the world then was one of happiness, colors and all children just enjoying life. Now I am 21 and I understand that not every child enjoys the same privileges growing up. Some have to struggle twice as hard and some have to shoulder adult responsibilities at an early age. 

Last Night as I was heading home, I came across 8 year old Josefa whose story is different from my version of life at 8. At 8 years old, Josefa tries to help his family make ends meet by selling roti curry parcels at Cost-U-Less car park. He is a class 3 student at a school in Suva and the 6^th eldest of 9 children. His older siblings are all married and have families of their own. Being the eldest now in the house he feels the need to help his parents out. Therefore, every day after school Josefa rushes home to do his homework then around 5 p.m he makes his way to Damodar City to sell roti.

“I sell roti parcel to help my parents buy food and buy lunch for school for my siblings and I.

I start selling at 5 p.m or 6 p.m after finishing homework. We have to finish homework first before we come. That is why we are out here on the streets at night,” said Josefa.

Picture: Josefa selling roti parcel at Cost-U-Less carpark

His daily routine of selling roti parcel begins from Damodar City. After spending few hours there, he then walks to Cost-U-Less car park to finish selling all the roti parcels. If there is some roti parcels remaining by 9 p.m., he then walks over to wishbone to try sell it all. By 11 p.m. once all the roti parcels have been sold, he then takes a walk home to Gaji Rd.  

As the dust began to settle and he felt a bit more comfortable talking to me, Josefa explained how he dreams to one day be a solider. However, the environment he faces at school in trying to fit in is becoming a bigger challenge for him. Josefa had to switch schools this year because he was being bullied in his previous school.

"E ra dau bully taki au baleta e ra kila ni’u dravudravua. Gauna au kana curry na vakasigalevu, e ra dau vakasisilataka.” (They (school mates) bully me because they know I am poor. They are disgusted when I have curry for lunch)

But he doesn’t let this affect him and his passion to continue on in school. "Gauna e ra vacuki au, dau kaya vei ira, vacuki au tale. Baleta noqu qasenivuli ni lotu e tukuna ke dua e sabaki iko na yasana mawi, kaya vua me sabaki iko tale na yasana matau" (When they beat me up, I tell my bullies to punch me again. My Sunday school teacher told me if someone hits you on one cheek, offer the other one also).

Due to the circumstances he faces at school, he has decided not to let any of his peers know he sells roti to make a living. Only one of his good mates Sunia knows about it. Whenever he sees his other friends he hides from them.

After sitting and sharing stories with him for an hour, Tali Magimagi bid young Josefa good bye. Before going our separate ways, Josefa said “Bro, only three things important in this life- God above anything else, Education and Family”

To Josefa and all others following this series of Tali Magimagi- keep sharing your stories and Be Kind to one another. Till the next blog, Moce mada!


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