A bit of creativity goes a long way

WHILE creating arts and crafts, souvenirs and other household decorations is Anel Gaskin’s bread and butter, the community empowerment component that is central to her business goes a long way to help those around her.

Established in 2012, Anel’s Wetland Creations has grown from strength to strength and produces unique, practical and downright creative gifts for the local tourism industry. While she does source beads and other materials from a variety of suppliers both locally and further afield, Anel’s creative mind sees necklaces when looking at an old beaded car seat cover and children’s wooden toys when looking at bits of wood and old pegs.

Photo frames, wall decorations and small wooden jewellery or firelighter storage boxes are just some of the ways she finds to recycle old bits of wood.

Thanks to Anel and her community spirit, women from communities surrounding St Lucia have the opportunity to learn a craft, flex their artistic muscles and make a living. ‘Although the number of women helping me with the crafts fluctuates, I sometimes have as many as 12 working for me at any one time,’ said Anel.

‘They help me make the items we sell, but they also run their own businesses’.

Those who make the beaded jewellery, wooden toys and woven baskets for Wetland Creations are paid upfront, before the items are sold in Anel’s shop or shipped off to fulfill orders from other parts of the province.

Those who work solely for themselves, Anel helps get started with the materials.

‘Making and selling souvenirs to visitors is ideal in this area and is a job and income we can all enjoy,’ said Anel.

Anel’s creations are sold both in and around St Lucia, in uMfolozi, Pongola and Ermelo. She recently celebrated the opening of her new shop along the R618 about 7km out of St Lucia.