This week on Kava mo Kajap, we speak with Mrs. Winnie Daniel from Tongoa—a widow, mother of 10, and local businesswoman in Bladinier Stage 1, who has been baking bread for 20 years. Mrs. Daniel’s story of resilience, family, and her bread business is truly heartwarming.
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
WD: As you know, my name is Winnie Daniel, and I’m from Selemanga Village in Tongoa. I moved to Port Vila years ago with my late husband, and we lived in Manples. While he worked, I stayed home and started baking bread. As the business grew, I’d ring a bell to let the community know when the bread was ready—usually around 6am, 9am, 12pm, and 3pm. Later, we bought land in Bladinier and moved there, continuing the business.
When my husband passed away in 2020, I knew I had to support my children’s education and health. Out of my 10 children, one has special needs, and all are still in school. I told them we’d start selling bread door-to-door, so we used a wheelbarrow to transport the bread and hit the streets. It was difficult to see my children helping like that, but I knew we had no other choice.
This bread business has been our lifeline. It helps me cover electricity, water, bus fares, lunch money, and school fees. I’ve taught my children to balance their schoolwork with helping out in the business. Now, we operate with three wheelbarrows, baking three bags of flour worth of bread every day. Even kids from the neighbourhood join in to help, and I make sure they go home with a little cash as a thank you.
Q: How many loaves of bread can you fit in a wheelbarrow, and how much do you sell them for?
WD: One wheelbarrow can carry between 34 and 76 loaves, depending on how much flour we use that day. We sell the bread for VT150 each.
Q: Do you sell your bread in shops as well?
WD: Recently, I started working with a local shop, and they sell about 20 of my loaves each day.
Q: Have your children faced any difficulties while selling bread?
WD: There’s a group of young boys and girls in our neighbourhood known as the “Joss/Josses.” While some people might see them as trouble, they’ve actually been very kind to my kids. Sometimes, they help push the wheelbarrow. However, there was one incident, and the community came together to address it. I’ve taught my children to report any issues they face on the streets, but overall, we’ve been fortunate with the support we’ve received.
Q: What advice do you have for widows or single mothers?
WD: My advice is straightforward: we women must remain strong for our families, no matter the circumstances. Don’t rely too heavily on your husbands because, one day, he may be gone, and you’ll need a plan. You must be able to play both roles as a mother and a father in the home. The same applies to fathers.
I also believe in keeping children close and teaching them the value of work. My children follow a routine—school, then home to help with the bread business. It’s about building a future together.
And with that, our Kava mo Kajap session concludes. A big thank you to Norbert for sponsoring the delicious kava from Pandanas Nakamal. Until next time!
SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST
