When the sun rises over Port Vila, 46-year-old Mary Yapakol is already dressed in her security uniform, shirt tucked in, boots laced, and ready to face another long day.

Mary, originally from West Tanna, stands at a workplace where mostly men are hired. Yet her presence, quiet confidence, and resilience have made her one of the most trusted security officers on site.

“I never used to dress like this,” she says with a shy laugh, fixing her shirt. “But when I started this job, they told me I must be neat from morning until dark. I love this job. I look after my family. I am the breadwinner.”

Her voice softens when she speaks about her late husband. His passing pushed her into a role she never imagined, financial provider, protector, and role model for her children.

“Even though my husband passed away, I have to play my role out in the field,” she says. “When I see someone, I talk to them kindly, so they can approach me.”

Facing danger on the job

Working security has not been without challenges. Mary has stepped into tense situations,calming fights, stopping thefts, and protecting her employer’s property.

“One time, a thief came and tried to take a wheel from my boss’s vehicle,” she recalls. “Just yesterday there was a fight, and I had to step in to stop it.”

From security guard to kava seller by night

When her shift ends, other workers head home to rest. For Mary, the day is only half over.

At night, she runs a small kava business. She prepares, measures, serves, and counts her earnings, sometimes making up to VT8,000 a day.

“It’s hard,” she admits, “but it’s enough to support my family.”

Her kava income pays for food, school needs, and daily expenses. Her security income helps with rent and bigger commitments. Together, the two jobs form the backbone of her household.

Strength in the face of pressure

Mary says what keeps her going is simple: family.

“They depend on me,” she says quietly. “So I must work.”

Her story reflects the reality of many women in Vanuatu, women who carry heavy burdens behind the scenes, holding their families together with courage and quiet determination.