Handicrafts and love
“I did not only make ends meet, I fell in love with it. ”
I was raised by my grandmother, and so I grew up exposed to the art of handicrafts and how to do it. It has been way over a decade since I started working here. My husband got into an accident, after our second baby, and he damaged his spinal cord and became paralysed for life. I could not be in paid employment anymore. I was a hotel clerk, as well as a shop/sales assistant before the accident happened. In consideration of my husband’s condition and the sole responsibility of raising our kids and providing for the family, I thought I could come back into the handicrafts trade and make a living. I did not only make ends meet, I fell in love with it.
I married my husband when he was already in a wheelchair. It was that kinda love. He passed away in 2008. I did not realise that God was setting me up for great things, just by that experience of looking after him. Now I do. I was seriously challenged when I was looking after my husband, and the family, and having to sell crafts to make a living. I had managed to build us a house. There was no one to help me with everything. So, I would wake up and cook all the food for the day, and put it where my husband could access it, then I would leave for the market. Later on, as the years went by, my son impregnated a girl, and they left the baby with me at 2months. It was such a trying time. Somehow my younger daughter failed form 3, and she was the one to look after the baby while I went to the market. Her failure, in retrospect, was a blessing in disguise for me. Today, the ‘burden’ of my grandchild has turned out to be a blessing, because she is all I have, and she puts colour in my life. Outside that I would be an empty nester. That is how God does things you see.
SEDCO called me in 2009, to represent eSwatini in a SADC expo competition in Botswana. I won 25000 Pula. In 2012 I joined entrepreneur of the year in the arts/crafts/handiwork category. I won it all at eSibayeni Lodge. This work entered my bloodstream; I am in love with it. In 2013 I was third place. In 2014 at the convention centre, I joined again and won. I stopped joining in 2015. This work has taken me to places others still dream of. In 2015, I was chosen to lead the differently-abled group to go yet again to Botswana for an expo. It was a variety of differently challenged people. And they wanted me to represent them. I had the experience of taking care of a disabled person, my late husband, so I was not overwhelmed at all. I coordinated/planned everything; taking care of them, dressing them, and planning for how we will look at the expo among other things. God provided, and we got the best country for that. In 2019 I was chosen by APA, to go to Taipei to represent the country at a cultural expo. I was chosen in 2020 as well, but covid happened. Of course, I have been met with challenges in this work, and my work with others. But I have been conscious of looking at God. He fights for me; he sets my paths straight. What He has apportioned for me is mine. I believe that.
One of my kids is a soldier. The other is into the crafts as well. They are grown and independent now, it is only now that I work for myself hehe. I went with my children to the trade fair shows, to show them different means of living. You cannot live your life looking for someone else to employ you. As long as you are alive and sane, you have a brain to THINK. Use it, explore your talent, produce something, and God will bless the work of your hands. You will not get your talent from the government; it is WITHIN you. USE IT.
“A crisis is a beautiful opportunity for new beginnings, new ways of thinking...ride the tide”
Under covid, we have had to change. In business, one must be adaptable. USE YOUR MIND; instead of ‘selling crafts only, sell masks also, move with the seasons’ demands. You will stand. A crisis is a beautiful opportunity for new beginnings, new ways of thinking, etc., to ride the tide.
To the young people, there is an online business, send your work abroad. You are technologically savvy, use that. Use your talent, work on yourself. And give yourself to the world. Serve yourself. Fall in love with what you do. God responds to love. Be true to yourself. You are Swati, build on that, stand tall, be bold, and know who you are. You are the one to tell the world who you are. I have told them who I am, and I will continue to do so. God has been so faithful to me.
