Mum, daughter work hard for school fees

The National National
From right: Agatha Lailai, Emma Rupen and Noelene Rupen at the Kokopo Market selling mangoes. – Nationalpic by MICHAEL WARTOVO

WITH the new school year to start on Feb 1, mother of six Agatha Lailai from Rakival ward, Watom Island local level government in Rabaul, East New Britain, is working hard to earn enough money to pay her daughter’s school fees.
Daughter Emma Rupen is set to do grade five at Naveo Primary School on Watom Island.
She and her mother have been selling mangoes at Kokopo market to be ready for school with their target of K100.
Lailai said she and her daughter have been selling mangoes for the last four days trying to reach the target.
She said Emma had been enthusiastically helping her.
Emma told The National that she was proud of her mother because she was committed to having her in school.
She said she would try her best to do well in her studies and get good grades.
Emma said her younger brothers were also selling produce to earn money for their school fees.
Agatha said although it was expensive travelling from their island to Rabaul and then connecting to Kokopo, it was worth it because they were earning good money.