Malia and Siaosi Palefau share a subsidized apartment in East Palo Alto with their six children — back row, from left, Lose, 11, Falaviena, 14, and Vaiolini, 12; center, Sosifate, 6; and front row, Pauline, 8, left, and Semisie, 4. Siaosi is looking for work to support his family.

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Working for a better life
EMIGRANTS FROM TONGA NEED A HAND TO HELP MAKE THEIR AMERICAN DREAM COME TRUE

malia and Siaosi Palefau are trying to live the American Dream they say brought them to the United States. With the hope of an education and a better life for their six children, they worked and saved enough to leave their native Tonga and come to California.

With the family now settled into a subsidized apartment in East Palo Alto, the kids are enrolled in school, but both parents are still looking for work. Siaosi, who goes by ``George'' since his arrival here, lost his minimum-wage job when the very old, donated car he drove to work kept breaking down. Malia hopes that once her husband has a day job, she can work at night.

Snuggled around their mom in the meticulously cared-for apartment that is home now, the children say they are excited to be in school. Third-grader Pauline says she loves to sing. Sosifate, 6, lights up when he talks about learning to throw a football, but he doesn't have one of his own. Lose, 10, has a knack for learning languages and already is picking up Spanish. Vaiolingi, who is 12, says she wants to play soccer.

But the Palefau family doesn't spend time complaining about what they don't have. When they were residents of Haven House, a Menlo Park homeless shelter that provides housing and wide-ranging support to families, the Palefaus were busy contributing to their new community. They were ``model citizens,'' says Helen Robinson, their caseworker. ``They were the hardest-working family we've ever had.''

Every day Siaosi goes to Home Depot to see about getting a job, since they have told him they will be hiring soon. He is hoping to find outdoor gardening or construction work that pays more than minimum wage because he has to support his large family.

The stark, treeless grounds of their apartment aren't safe for the kids to play in. Still, Siaosi says he is glad he brought his family here. ``America is beautiful,'' he says. ``I wanted a new life for my children. Here they can have it.''

While they build toward that new life, the family could use a hand. Three sets of bunk beds ($500 each) (19A) would allow each child his or her own place to sleep. Gift certificates for school clothes and supplies ($25 each) (19B) would take care of some basics. A computer ($700) (19C) and printer ($50) (19D) would help with schoolwork. All of the kids would love to have bikes ($49 (19E) for the smaller ones, $99 (19F) for the bigger ones ) and helmets ($15) (19G). And gift certificates ($25 each) (19H) would allow Siaosi and Malia to shop for a few surprises for Christmas morning.