Mauritius: Determination to move forward despite the challenges

I am Preety, 50 years old, come from a poor family and I’m the eldest child in the family. I have four sisters and one brother. My childhood was not that easy as my father was the only breadwinner. He did his best to provide us for our basic needs and to pay for the monthly rent. After my standard six, I wanted to join the secondary school. However my father could not afford to send me to college as at that time secondary school was not free. Luckily my grandfather had helped me financially and I joined the Central technical college. I stopped at the level of Form Five due to my financial situation.

From 1980 to 1985, I worked as baby-sitter and I was also a trainee in a watch industry. In the meantime, everyone in the family has contributed to buy a plot of land and to build a small house. When my sisters and my brother got married, our family had grew bigger and the house was filled with happiness. After 1985, I worked in a garment factory as machinist, quality controller and clerk. I was very happy with my job as I had made a lot of friends. I worked there for twelve years. However, one day when I went to work the security told me that the factory had closed down. The Ministry of work did not intervene because there was too many debts. This was a painful moment as I had lost my job. After the closure of the factory I joined the ‘Histoire damour’ company, it is an underwear production factory

On September 1998, I met someone named Rama in a prayer ceremony. He was the one who conducted the prayer as he was the priest. Soon we became friend and we used to chat. In the beginning of 1999, he proposed me for marriage. However we could not get married as his father had just passed away. So we had to wait for one year. Finally we got engaged on June 2000 and on 3^rd September 2000 we got married. It was the best day as I got the love of my life. One month after my wedding I got pregnant. Everyone was happy with my pregnancy especially my husband. For the first six months I continued working. However I fell ill and had to stay in the hospital for two months. Unfortunately, on 10/04/2001 I lost my baby. It was the most painful time in my life. I could not return back to work as I had lost my confidence and felt guilty. Moreover, bad luck continued to strike on me as my father passed away on 10/06/2002. My life became colorless and I lost my exhilaration. After five years of treatment I have not conceived and this has brought distances in my couple. Therefore I decided to join the welfare Centre.

One day with the help of Mrs.Pamela Permalloo and chichi Nunkoo, I created the Piton Women Association to help women to set up their business from their home without neglecting their family. Since ten years with the sponsorship of the National Institute of Co-operative Empowerment, many women have received numerous courses such as Pastry making, Indian cuisine, Facial, Handicraft, Jewelleries and so on.

Now in 2016, with the proposal of Mrs.Burdhool, I decided to join this Business Management Course given by Gender Links so as to know more about how to operate a business. I look forward to learn how to start a micro-enterprise to be financially independent.

I am also following this course so as to be able to share my knowledge with the members of the Women Association, relatives and friends. From this course I also expect to learn how to deliver a speech, how to trust people, how to approach people and how to master business.

My business plan will be mainly focused on the gastronomic side and I think it will be a long term business. To begin I want to prepare faratha, ‘dhol-puri’ and snacks and sell it in bulk. To carry on this business I will need to look for interested partners. I will also need to take a loan from the bank or any other financial institute.

In 2017, I need to set up my business in my village, in school canteens, in factories and other working premises. As I’m a woman, I’m very conscious about health issues. Therefore in five years, I am planning to prepare a healthy diet menu for different age groups. Obesity and diabetic people will also be taken into consideration. To empower women I think that I will need the help of the Government. I hope that my dream will be realized.