Babita Jugroop has decided to take her destiny in hand. This shy woman had never worked in her whole life but she suddenly decided she would do so. When she heard that Mrs Jugernauth was teaching a craft at the social centre of St Pierre, she jumped at the occasion. She would learn wickerwork.

She began her course eight months ago and she has not really started to work yet. “I have to pass my exam and get my certificate first,” she explains while she proudly exhibits her hand-made products. Babita makes se-veral types of objects: from a small table to the mirror and the baskets… Everything is laid out carefully in a room, which seems to be especially reserved for her objects.

“When I saw my friends go and take these courses, I immediately wanted to try. I have never worked but I knew I would enjoy this job.” She admits that it is not always easy but she likes what she is doing, so she sticks at it.

She goes to the courses every Tuesday with all the materials. “Courses are free of charge. It is a way for the government to take care of unemployed women.” However, the twenty women of the social centre have to bring their own raw materials: wicker and other decorative stuff such as artificial flowers, beads, paint…

<B>A shop of her own one day …?</B>

The teacher gives them advice, makes a model to show them what they have to do exactly and then they make the products by themselves. The first step is to cut the wicker to the right length. Then, they have to soak it in water to soften it and make it more pliable. They finally make the products according to the notes given by Mrs. Jugernauth.

Babita does not know what she will do after getting her certificate. “It will depend on our financial means,” her husband says. Her dream is to open a shop…