Mauritius: *Albert Heraldine

My most memorable experience I have experienced through Gender Links is the Gala night at the national summit. I never imagined that I could succeed in my life. Thanks to Gender Links, I have turned my dreams into reality and I am currently living my dream. At the national summit I managed to be in the second position for the entrepreneurship category and that made me realize that I have potential. I can do many things that I want. I learned to keep my head straight up, have faith in myself and never give up. I learned about the different types of violence and the rights and laws that are there to help/protect women and children against gender based violence.

I used to have a very negative outlook about life. I never thought that I could do something on my own. But time has been the best healers. When I left my abusive relationship I took up a job at a hotel. Following the entrepreneurship training at Gender Links I started making pickles and other foodstuffs from Rodrigues. Before the training, I used to make these products but for my own consumption or to give to my friends. Thanks to the advice/skills that I have acquired from the Gender Links training’s I have been able to turn it into a business and make good profit for myself. I have been able to do a lot more choice of my products, I have been able to broaden my market and reach out to more people.

I have learned that we should always be confident and remain positive no matter what. The key to happiness is to start making the effort. I would love to work hard enough to be my own big business and having my own premises.