Kishmet displaying some of the work that she has produced. Photo: VINO

Kishmet related that she has been a Teacher at the Ebenezer Thomas Primary school for 2 years, teaching youngsters to knit, make dolls, bags and other craft products. She further revealed that she got into teaching because “I reached a point in my life where I wanted to do something that I would love doing".

Hailing from Duff’s Bottom, Kishmet attended the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School and the then BVI High School.

She also has an extensive history in the field of hospitality (seventeen years) and was a waitress for about twelve years.

Ultimately, she revealed, teaching took a more central focus in her life. “I just wanted to search inside of me to find something that I was passionate about and would love doing and would want to do it for the rest of my life.”

Good feedback has been received from both the children and their parents, she noted. She declared that instead of the kids “coming home and harassing the parents, some of the parents say the kids just sit in a corner and knit until it’s time to go to sleep.“

Ms. Daniel said her satisfaction comes from seeing the children’s smiles and the happy and cheerful look on their faces after they have completed a project. Sometimes they even wear the things they make. “You may find them with a purse or bangle or even carrying around the dolls they make,” she said with pride in her voice.

Knitting, another passion of hers, was something she had been doing for the past eleven years and started when she first became a Rastafarian. Daniel said she invested tip money from waitressing to buy her materials, which included books and pins and she also started reading up on the subject. “I’m self-taught… as the years went by I became an experienced knitter.”

Kishmet revealed that she got into doll making because of a friend. “I had a Filipino friend at Peter Island and while I was [waitressing], she was knitting. She used to knit dolls and I used to love dolls. When she was ready to go she left some patterns and pins with me,” she said.

“I just started reading the patterns and tried to figure out how to get them done.” Her persistence eventually paid off as she has become an expert knitter.

Her facebook page, Daniel confessed, is a remarkably useful marketing tool while she plies her trade otherwise at various places such as Peter Island, the roundabout in Road Town, in addition to the waterfront area. The energetic Daniel said she finds no difficulty in her job because she loves doing it. “I’m passionate about it so… I don’t think about how much things I have to do; I just get up with the mindset that it has to be done.”

Daniel further revealed that she does a lot of recycling; something that allows her to produce things such as bangles, earrings, natural soap, lotion and grease. She also sews and farms. “The stuff that I farm is what I try to give the kids to eat. I get up at 3 A.M. and I make things from scratch,” she said.

When asked where she finds the strength and inspiration to keep her motivated and going, Daniel said “I usually find the inspiration from within and from the Most High.”

Being a practicing Rastafarian is a way of life that keeps her grounded.

“The way I live my life has played an intricate role,” she added, “and the time I’ve spent in the hospitality field has moulded and shaped me into the person I am today. When you’re working in the field of hospitality it teaches you how to put others before yourself… [The training] goes a long way in your life if you’re really serious about what people are telling you and not feel like they’re trying to control you.”

Our Young Professional also believes it is important to be humble and to listen to advice. “Follow the rules… it helped me to be the mother I am today.” Kishmet noted that her family is very supportive and they continue to encourage her in many ways.

Another area of speciality for Daniel, is making organic dishes such as “soynogg” and “frogurt”. “I want to open my own vegetarian store,” she said, “a real vegetarian store that sells things coming from the earth here… fully vegan.”

A full vegan, Daniel plants a number of fruits and vegetables in her garden including tomatoes, sorrel, cassava, sweet peppers, seasoning, spinach, lettuce and cucumber.

One of Daniel’s future plans is to open a school where she can teach others and especially wants to focus on special needs children, seniors and prisoners so that they can make a contribution to the economy and benefit from social security as well.

Daniel said education is the key to success and encouraged youths to always take their subjects seriously. Now that she is knitting, Daniel has learnt that all her subjects played a big role in her achievements today as many of the core subjects such as Mathematics come in very handy in her day to day knitting.

“Later on in life,” she said, “when you are really finding yourself and making yourself comfortable, you will see that all those subjects play a big role in everyday life.”

She parted by saying that it was also important to learn a hands-on skill in addition to academic studies and is ready to offer her services to anyone wishing to learn to knit or any other craft work.

Kishmet B. Daniel can be contacted on 540-4218.