Beverlyn Labu is one of the hardworking young mothers in Auki, Malaita who found a way to support her family by selling clothes.
Beverlyn is a mother of three children. She lives in Kona village, which is about 5 kilometres from Auki town, along the South Road in Central Kwara’ae.
In an interview, Beverlyn shared that selling clothes has become her only source of income. It is the business that helps her put food on the table, pay school fees, and build a better life for her family.
“Yes, I started selling clothes in Auki back in 2018,” she said with a smile.
At that time, only a few women were selling clothes in Auki, and she was the youngest among them. She said the market was very good in those early days because there was not much competition.
“What we usually did was get clothes from Chinese business owners in town. We bought them in bulk, and then we resold them at the market for a small profit,” Beverlyn explained.
During good days, she could earn between $2,000 to $3,000 in just one day. These good sales helped her to save money and make plans for her family.
“I went into this business because I had no other choice. I only went to school up to grade 6 and left school in 2007.
“One year later, I got married. I didn’t have any other job opportunities, and this was the only way I knew I could earn money,” Beverlyn said.
With the income from selling clothes, Beverlyn was able to achieve some of her biggest dreams.
She managed to build a permanent house for her family. She also uses her earnings to buy food and pay school fees for her three children.
“Today, I’m proud that my children are able to attend school because of this small business,” she said.
Beverlyn now sells clothes and slippers at her own stall in the new clothes market located at the old Plaza building area in Auki.
The new location is now becoming a busy spot for many local vendors like her.
She said that even though there are now more people selling clothes, the business is still helping her earn an income every day.
Her journey was not easy in the beginning. Like many others, Beverlyn was nervous when she started.
“When I first moved into this business, I was afraid. I didn’t know if I could do it. But as I slowly started selling and saw the money coming in, I became more confident. I told myself to be strong and keep going,” she said.
Beverlyn believes that young people in Malaita, especially women, should not give up easily. She says there are always opportunities around us—we just have to be strong and grab them.
“You don’t need a big job to earn money. Sometimes small things, like selling clothes, can help you do big things in life,” she said.
She also gave advice to young people who often think that going to Honiara to look for a job is the only way to survive.
“Going to Honiara to find work is common these days. That’s okay, but we must also see that opportunities are everywhere. Even here at home, if we are willing to work hard, we can earn something,” Beverlyn added.
She encouraged other mothers and youth in Malaita to look around and use their own ideas and talents to start small businesses.
“Money is everywhere. It depends on us—if we work hard, even small things can help us grow,” she said.
Now, Beverlyn has regular customers who come to buy from her. She also uses her small profits to restock her stall and sometimes buys new types of clothing to attract more buyers.
She dreams of expanding her small business one day. She hopes to get a bigger stall and maybe even start sewing clothes herself to sell.
Her story is a reminder that with strong will, faith, and hard work, people in our rural communities can still succeed and support their families, even without formal jobs.
“I’m happy with what I do. I may not have gone far in school, but this business helps me stand on my own feet. I thank God for the strength He gives me every day,” she concluded with a smile.
By LESLEY SANGA
Solomon Star Stringer
In Central Kwara’ae
