Monique Chevery

Motivated by Gender Links

With the course proposed at Gender Links (GL), I have been able to learn various things such as good human values and good manners. These are essential especially when I have to deal with clients. I am actually working as a maid. In parallel I am also working for myself, making and selling brooms in order to earn additional income. Moreover, I also sell alimentary foods such as fruits and eggs. In fact, it is in the year 2014 that my sister-in-law and I have joined the course at GL. I have attended all the three phases of the course. I feel very much satisfied with the course at GL as it was really beneficial to me. If I have to describe myself, I would say that I am actually a widow with two sons. I am living quite a simple and peaceful life. However, in the past when my husband was still alive, I must confess that my life was a complete nightmare. I have been a victim of what we call domestic violence where I was physically, verbally and emotionally abused by my husband. He was someone very brutal with me; he used to beat me without any culpability. I can still recall the day where we had a big fight; my husband has grabbed a sharp object and has cut my ear. After that I have followed the course which was provided at GL. People in the community where I live and especially my sons were astonish by how the course has helped me a lot.  They used to tell me that they could observe that my behavior has drastically changed in a positive way.  I am now a woman who had good manners. I also have a strong desire to advance in life. My business plan for the future is to extend the selling of my products by gaining more clients. I am really pleased by the progress of my little business. Actually I am getting more and more orders from lot of clients. For sure, this eventually helps me to bring additional revenue at home. GL has also contributed in the promotion of my products. One concrete example was when I attended a meeting at GL; Mrs. Anushka the country manager of GL seized the opportunity to tell everyone in the meeting that I was selling brooms.  By doing so, some of the people who were present, were willing to buy my products. Indeed, this has helped me to acquire more clients and make my business become known. If I have to say something to GL, I would like to say a big thank you to all the members of GL as they were all of a great support. They have helped me morally not to give up and to always believe in myself. They encourage me to persevere in what I was already doing.