Handicraftsmen and women are getting ready for you. Some 50 members of Bozart will be exhibiting their original hand-made products at Garden Village in Curepipe next Friday and Saturday. And, one week later, they will be at the Barachois in Tamarin for another exhibition. Perfect timing for buying your Christmas presents?

One of the most positive aspects of such exhibitions is the ?certainty of having original hand-made presents that you will find only there and in no other shop,? the vice-president of the association, Brigitte Langlois, points out. With their decorative objects made of wood or glass, their candles, textiles, jewellery or Christmas decorations, there is no doubt that you will have a wide choice of lovely little presents at affordable prices.

Brigitte Langlois is happy that the association is really starting to take off. ?Since our first such exhibition at Caudan Waterfront last August in which about 30 exhibitors took part, there has been a growing interest in what we are doing,? she comments. The interest comes not only from customers but also from shopping-centres who are ?happy to welcome us in their midst because they know we will attract more people?.

It is true that this period particularly suits such exhibitions but some periods are harder, because of ?the difficulty to find a place to settle and present our products to the public?. The aim of this non-profit-making association is to give a helping hand to all handicraftsmen and women who work at home and do not dare to market their products or do not have any outlet to do so. ?We try to help our members move throughout the island to get their products known,? the vice-president explains.

The control committee of the organisation makes sure that all new members abide by a certain number of quality criteria. But Brigitte Langlois makes it clear: ?We never reject them. We give them some advice on how to improve the quality of their products and when they are ready and we are satisfied with the results, then they become members of Bozart on payment of a Rs 200 membership fee?.