BY JOY OFASIA
Anna Gonu has been making and selling handmade pillows for almost ten years. She started this work to help support her eight children and her husband. Making pillows is not just a job for Anna—it is a way to take care of her family with pride.
Like many women in her community, Anna is one of many small business owners who use their craft to earn money. She gathers soft pillow stuffing from a tree in the forest, dries it in the sun, and sews it into pillowcases. Then, she sells these pillows at the busy Honiara central market.
Anna lives in Barana, in the Northwest part of Guadalcanal Island. Every day, she travels to the market to sell her pillows. “There are days when I don’t sell even one pillow,” Anna told SOLOMON WOMEN. “But I cannot give up because this is how I feed my children.”
One big problem for Anna and other sellers is the place to show their pillows at the market. “We don’t have a proper place to display our pillows. We just put them on the hot concrete or stand in bad weather,” she explained.
Despite the challenges, Anna earns good money from her business. She can make more than $500 in one day, which helps pay for her children’s school and family needs. Her small market spot shows how hard work and creativity can make a difference.
Anna hopes the Honiara City Council will provide a proper space with tables and shelter for pillow sellers. “I wish the council could help us. We want a safe, clean place to show our pillows, not standing in the sun or rain,” she said.
Sitting among her pillows at the market, Anna smiled and said, “As long as I live and can sew pillowcases, I will keep working for my children’s future.”
