School-teacher Eparama Rauraumala, 29, almost decided to surrender his insurance policy when he ran into financial difficulties – holding on to the policy proved to be a wise decision.
As a fresh graduate in 2009, Wainunu native Eparama Rauraumala did not have a lot of financial obligations. So the following year in 2010, after a chance meeting with an insurance agent at an aunt’s place in Lautoka, Eparama bought an insurance policy under his father’s name. Every fortnight, he’d pay a premium or cost of $45. He saw it both as a way to save and as a form of protection. As the eldest in the family, he was able to look after his parents and his four siblings as his teaching career flourished. Life was good.
Four years on, Eparama got married and started a family of his own. He continued to support his younger siblings and continued to pay premiums on his father’s policy despite the mounting financial obligations.