
Every year, when 12 March arrives, Mauritius dresses itself in colour. Flags appear on cars, shops, homes and public buildings. Schoolchildren sing with unusual sincerity. Families gather. Speeches are made. The island remembers itself. This year, Mauritius marks 58 years of independence since 12 March 1968 and 34 years as a republic since 12 March…

Across Mauritius, thousands of women are doing something quietly remarkable. From kitchens, spare rooms, verandas and living rooms, they are baking, stitching, styling, designing, freelancing, consulting, crafting and serving. They are not simply “keeping busy”. They are building livelihoods, supporting families, holding communities together and proving, every day, that enterprise does not always begin in…