Mother and daughter make baskets to sell for a living

ALTHOUGH life may not be easy for some women, they still find a way to support their families.
Grace Obert and Stella James from Kunjikini in Wosera-Gawi, East Sepik, make baskets and mats to sell for their family’s income.
They have been living at 4-Mile in Lae for a long time.
Both did not complete their education, but are skilled in basket-making.
Mother and daughter walk from their home in 4-Mile to Aigris Market, from Aigris Market to Main Market and back to 4-Mile, selling baskets.
They started making baskets to sell at their home in 4-Mile, back in 2001.
When Obert’s husband died in 2002, the only way they could make money was to make more baskets and to walk around and sell.
They have been doing that since then.
James has learned a lot from her mother over the years.
She has four children of her own.
Her husband left them for another woman with no support.
Despite the hardships and no men to support them, mother and daughter still have each other and really enjoy each other’s company.
“I have my mother with me so everything is okay,” James said.
The baskets are selling for K5, K10 and K15.
The mats are K15 and K25 depending on the size.