Business: Traditional weaver
Region: Le Kef
When Mehria talks about what she knows best, the rural area where has she spent all her life and from where she draws her inspirations and future projects, she is full of energy. "This is a form of wisdom that people living in full harmony with nature have," she told us. She has set up her weaving workshop close to the forest and fields so that she can use plants for natural dyes. She is among a few people in Tunisia who have fully mastered the technique of using plant dyes in order to create beautiful articles such as the scarves and baby blankets that she produces. "I would have loved to use plant dyes for all of my articles, but it would require larger investments," she said.

She obtained her first loan from the National Handicraft Office in 2004. This loan helped maker her known among national organisations that then placed orders for a number of her carpets and klims (traditional tapestries). In 2006, she received her first micro-credit from enda inter-arabe which enabled her to participate in some exhibitions and training courses in both design techniques and quality standards for her trade.  She has since received 5 loans, totaling 12,000 TND.

She now trains and employs a team of 15 young girls who receive an allowance from Le Kef regional job centre. "I am aiming to set up a school in our region that can provide training on plant dyes and to produce a film on these techniques," she declared.