After COVID-19 struck Fiji’s economy, Vaseva Seru had no option but to open a stall to support herself.
Vaseva owns and operates a stall in Suva City to financially support herself. “Before I used to do tailoring at home. After COVID-19 my business went from good to bad.
I felt people were too scared to spend and preferred to save money. “I started recently and comparing income with my old business, I prefer this one.
My roadside stall allows me to take something home, while in the tailoring business there were days and even weeks when I did not get any orders.”
When tough times fell upon Vaseva, she was forced to leave her passion and look for an alternative.
“When I was a child, I always played with the sewing machine at my home and that inspired me to become a tailor after finishing year 11.
“After my husband passed away, I had to manage everything on my own such as paying the bill, arrange for food and cater for other expenses which was very tough on me then because my husband was the only breadwinner in the family.
“After starting my tailoring business I also wanted to print designs on my materials and sell them but getting the required resources and money became the major problem.
So I had to leave my tailoring profession,” he said. The former student of Dudley High School said she started her tailoring business to support her grandchildren.
“I started this business to help my grandchildren who were living with me, but now they are all grown up and moved out so I have to look after myself.”
She encourages youths to be adventurous and not be scared by looking at the negative sides of a decision.
“Everything is possible and if you have something you are planning to do and you know you have a talent to make it successful, don’t be hesitant to try it.
“If you are given an opportunity, go for it, because we don’t know what the future holds for us,” she said
