Mauritius: Unlucky since birth

When my mother was pregnant with me my father had a mistress and was beating my mother a lot. I do not know my mother. She had a miscarriage and died but I was alive. My father did not care for me. My grandmother looked after me until I was seven months old. She then sent me to a convent/shelter. I stayed there until the age of seven. I left the convent and walked around to get some food. I stayed with my father who had another woman. She mistreated me. She had a daughter who loved a man but my stepmother forced me to marry the man. The latter was drinking all the time and when he was drunk he would beat me. When I was pregnant the violence was so bad that my sister-in-law had to help me.

We then left to stay in Camp-des-Jui and there he refused to work and I had to do all sorts of jobs to be able to feed my children. I even looked for food in garbage so that we could eat and sometimes I could not get anything. I sometimes picked some greens and other times got some “chou chou”. Sometimes at night my friends and I went to a dumping place in Bassin to collect meat rejects. I was on the verge of having my child and nearly gave birth in the woods. My partner took me to his mother who was wicked. Soon after my baby was born I had to get up to do all house chores including cooking. I woke up at five in the morning and went to pick some vegetables in other people’s garden. Looked for stale bread to eat and to feed my children. Begged for clothes from people for myself and my children.

When my husband came back at night he would beat me and sometimes throw away what I have cooked. The violence was so unbearable that I had to take my children with me and ran to my neighbour. I returned home when he was fast asleep. He kept on telling me that he would not work and to fend for myself and the children.

I started looking for work. I even worked as a helper to mix cement at Rs.300 so that I could buy oil and rice. He watched over me and stole my goods so that he could buy alcohol. When he returned home his favourite past time was beating me. We even had to sleep outside the house. Even when I was working he would beat me. He did not want me to go to work and he did work either. But I insisted and went to work in a lady’s house. The lady was good to me and gave me food as well as food for my children so that we did not have to go to bed on an empty stomach.

After the death of my husband I met another man. I was 47 years old and he did not want my children to stay with us. I had lots of problems with him but after some time he agreed that my children could stay with us. I also had problems because of my daughter. My previous husband was wicked and violent but this one is worse.

I prayed a lot and God helped me. All my children are big now and married. I am a bit better now.

I am so happy I am following this course. I am happy to have been able to tell my story. I have always said that if I have to tell my story one book will not be enough but today I am blessed that I can relate my story.

I feel empowered following the course. I will know how to do my business. I would like to start a poultry business. Work for myself and the money is for me.