It’s not easy to raise a family on your own, but with perseverance and patience, Ani Marama Kiniboi is content that she has done her part by raising her six children and being a faithful wife to her husband.
Ani Marama is now 61 years old and is still doing what she loves best, weaving mats and catching crabs from mangroves to sell at the Nausori market every Saturday.
She is proud to have 23 grandchildren and she adores them every time they visit her at her home in Narocake Village in Noco, Rewa.
Ani Marama is also a pastor’s wife and she said it had not been smooth sailing as life took them through a process.
“You know, when we started our family, and having six children, we have to work hard to sustain our family.
“I help out my husband to catch crabs so we can earn money for the family.
“Before in the late 1970s and ’80s, cost of living at that time was reasonable.
“If I get $50 from selling crabs, I can buy a lot of food and groceries with that money.
“But nowadays, you can’t survive for one week with $50. So, I am thankful that I am able to do my part by raising our children. Paying for their school fees at that time, and supporting them,” she said with a smile.
Ani Marama has six children, three girls and three boys.
“All my children are married and are living on their own. But they just live nearby and my grandchildren always visit me nearly every day,” she said excitedly.
Nowadays, Ani Marama weaves mats for her relatives who would inform her in advance before paying cash upfront for her mats to take to functions such as weddings or birthday celebrations.
She said she learnt how to weave mats when she was a teenager and her late mother taught her this skill.
Ani Marama attended Ratu Sauvoli Primary School before she went to Saraswati College to continue her education from Form Three up to Form Five.
“When I was little I used to dream to become a teacher but I thank the Lord that I was a teacher at home teaching my kids life skills and nurturing them to be good citizens.”
After high school, Ani Marama went to Nadi to work in various hotels working as kitchen-hand and did housekeeping.
“Then I came back to the village and always helped my aunties with babysitting.
“When I was 20 years old, I got married and this year is our 41st wedding anniversary.
“I am blessed that we are healthy and still enjoying raising our family together and I must thank the Lord Almighty for being our tower of strength all this time,” she said.
Ani Marama said that as long as she was healthy and fit, she would continue to go out fishing or catching crabs to help sustain her family.
