Business: Traditional weaver
Region: Le Kef
Saida has never been to school. This is why she put all her passion, love and intellect into continuing her ancestors' heritage of weaving. She learnt from her father how to weave the traditional 'kachabia', a sort of woollen coat that men wear in the cold and snowy mountains of her native region in northwest Tunisia, Le Kef.

As she has had little to do other than concentrate on learning the trade, she devoted all her time and energy into weaving. She thus developed an ability to listen and observe carefully, as well as a sense of creativity. When she decided to make weaving her profession and to start her own micro-enterprise, she applied for her first loan from enda inter-arabe.

Saida has since produced articles that are beautiful, creative and useful: cushions, light tapestries, curtains etc. Despite the fact that most of the quality material she is using is expensive, that there is a general lack of proper training in design, quality standards and fashion trends, and that the market for handicrafts is not dynamic, Saida is not discouraged. She regularly renews her loans from enda-ia to further improve the quality of her products. Up to now, she has obtained 3,000 TND in loans.

The recent training session she attended in design enabled her to design and create a new line of cushions and wall tapestries that she exhibited at the 1st trade exhibition of micro-entrepreneurs in Strasbourg. She hopes to get orders from international buyers and to export her original creations.