Every morning at 4am, while most of Wailekutu is still asleep, Litia Ladoge is up and about.
By sunrise, the aroma of fried fish, homemade baked goodies and hot tea fills her kitchen.
Later, it follows her to her roadside market, where she has been running her small food stall for the past four years.
Ms Ladoge says her journey into small business began during a difficult season in her family’s life.
“I started when my husband was unemployed,” she said.
“I had to find another way to support the family.”
What began as a necessity slowly turned into a steady livelihood after an elderly couple offered her a small roadside space to operate.
From that humble spot, she now sells hot meals, juice, tea and confectionery to passing customers.
Business, she says, has been ‘unpredictable’.
“There are good days and bad days. It fluctuates,” she explained.
“But it usually picks up on Thursday, Friday and Saturday when more people are out.”
Despite the uncertainty, the income she earns alongside her husband plays a vital role in supporting their extended family, including her sister’s two daughters who are still in primary school.
Strength in the face of challenges
Working along the roadside is not always easy. Ms Ladoge admits she sometimes faces hurtful comments from passersby.
“Sometimes people say rude things, and it hurts,” she says quietly. “But I don’t let those things discourage me.”
Instead, she focuses on what she can control — her attitude, her work ethic and her service.
“With this job, you have to be polite and friendly,” she said.
“You meet different people every day so it’s important to smile and be welcoming.”
She says the opportunity to interact with people from all walks of life is one of the best parts of her job.
Lessons from the past
A former student of Nakauvadra High School, Ms Ladoge left school in Form 5. Looking back, she admits she did not take her education seriously.
“I was just following my peers and didn’t really focus on my studies,” she said.
“Now that I’ve grown older, I regret that.”
Her experience has shaped the advice she now shares with young people.
“Everybody has talents,” she said.
“If you can cook, arrange flowers, sing, play music, do something with that talent. Turn it into income. Support yourself and your family.”
A simple but steady dream
Ms Ladoge does not think of expanding into a large business or opening a restaurant. Her dreams are simpler and deeply personal.
“I don’t have big plans,” she said.
“I just want to take it one day at a time.”
But long term, she hopes to save enough money to build a house in the village where she and her husband can retire peacefully when they grow old.
Her days are long. She works from 4am and usually rests by eight or nine at night. Yet she believes hard work is necessary, especially as the cost of living continues to rise.
“Life is not easy. Prices of goods and services keep going up.”
“We must use whatever skills and talents we have to earn money for our families.”
So before dawn each day, she begins again – not chasing grand ambitions, but steadily building toward a dream small enough to manage.
