Have faith, if one job doesn’t work out for you, try another
By ZINA KOIM
FATHER of nine Epalia Paita, from Ialibu in Southern Highlands, sells paintings, hand-crafted baskets and carvings to make ends meet for his family.
“My main aim was to build a craft shop for myself in Port Moresby and on several occasions, I have written letters to the museums, government aids but have not succeeded, so I mainly do these sales to help my family, pay the kids’ school fees and meet their needs,” Paita said.
He said one of his nine children was a teacher, the others were still in school and some others were doing other jobs.
He started engaging in sales in 1988 at a very young age.
“When I completed grade 10 in that same year, I did not get an offer and I felt that I had no hope,” he said.
“I used to weave baskets so I started selling my baskets at Mt Hagen, then at Goroka, Lae in Morobe and I came all way to Port Moresby and started selling my baskets at Ori Lavi at 4-Mile.”
Paita said when the market expanded, he and few other sellers were moved to an open space so he decided to move to Holiday Inn hotel gate.
“I sell bilums, baskets, carvings and Kina shells, “he said.
“ I deal with the people who craft baskets, artists and people who make carving so when they are need, they ask me to sell their products, I get my share and give them theirs.”
“I deal with the people who craft the baskets, artists and people who make carving so when they are need, they ask me to sell their products, I get my share and give them theirs.
“At times, when they are in need, they sell it with me and I buy from them and I sell, other times I get it from my suppliers.”
Paita said has been doing sales for the last 34 years but has travelled overseas as well.
“I went to Guam, the Cook Islands and was ready to go to New Zealand but that event was suspended, “he said.
“In 2016, I went to an exhibition in Australia.”
He said life had never been easy for the family but he always made sure he provided for them.
His word of encouragement for the young people, middle-aged and those who were seeking a job and had not made it to tertiary institution to always have faith and look for other ways to earn a living.