FOR 78-year-old Eileen Samuels, a simple life is the best way, since she already lives in a beautiful valley surrounded by hills.

The mother of two has been living alone in her comfortable wooden cottage in Victory Valley, Wismar, Linden.

In her yard, she has a lot of plants and flowers, and she has the place clean and tidy.

When the team visited, she was making some coconut oil; the process was long, but she had almost finished.

And since it was sunshine, she had strained the coconut milk from one bucket to another and was about to place it in the sunlight.

If the sunshine continues, she will be able to bottle her homemade coconut oil for sale, a job that brings in an income to the home to offset expenses.

It is a tedious task for an elderly lady, but she does it anyway.

Since her husband passed away four years ago, she had to do something for work and began making coconut oil.

The pensioner would get about nine bottles to sell and in her spare time she would take a brisk walk a few minutes away to her friend, who has a shop in the village and chat for a bit before returning home.

When at home, the radio would be on and that is considered her company and she would do her chores and cook.

Even at her age, she takes care of her 69-year-old sister who is bedridden and also visually impaired in both eyes.

Samuels would take meals for her daily and tend to her needs.

“I have the blessings of sight in both eyes because I had two surgeries for cataract and I see clearly these days and for that I am thankful,” she said.

The shopkeeper/farmer
The team also met Owen Bobb, who has a small shop in Victory Valley and also has modest dwellings there.

The 51-year-old is originally from El Dorado Village, West Coast Berbice and came to Linden to look for work.

He ended up living in the valley because he had nowhere to stay and was among the early squatters.

The father of two stated that he worked in the interior for some years and then returned to the valley, where he is setting up a farm, but in the meantime, he is operating his shop.

He was making his way back to his shop when the team caught up with him that day; he went to fill up his water from the spring for drinking and did not mind chatting for a bit.

The retired headteacher
Eaudenna Estraido is also a resident of Victory Valley and has been there since 1986.

She ended up in the village because she was tired of renting and could not get a suitable house to buy, back then, so she decided to settle in the valley.

It has been home ever since and despite what some people say about the valley, it is a safe, quiet place to reside.

The mother of one told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is originally from Coomacka Mines, but after she finished the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), she was assigned to Christianburg Primary School.

She began her teaching career at Coomacka Primary School and was later transferred back to the very school, sometime later.

Estraido stated that she was sent to Mabura Hill Primary School where she was promoted to headteacher and retired as same, after spending more than 30 years in the noble teaching profession.

Even after retirement, she is still teaching but with a private school, Royal Halls of Learning, a Christian school and has been there for the past four years.

“It is a disciplined school and it is easier to teach there because of the morals and values instilled in the learners there,” she said.

Estraido added that her daughter is a graduate from the University of Guyana (UG) and is jobless, sitting at home, not doing much.

The Wismar Masjid
Jermaine Allicock is one of the many members of the Wismar Masjid, a towering concrete structure under construction at the entrance to Victory Valley.

He is from the valley and these days he would assist the community in any way he can through the masjid.

Depending on their resources, Allicock would put together hampers, have a clothing drive, and distribute it in the village several times per year.

The Wismar Masjid is the only one on the Wismar shore and it was a small edifice that began taking a bigger shape last year through construction, which is still happening to accommodate more members.

“The doors of the masjid is always open for all and even non-Muslims are always welcomed here and we do what we can to assist the community and people of Linden,” he said.

The Wismar Masjid is a landmark building and it is strategically located and has a membership of more than 200, some of whom are from the valley and various parts of Linden.