Youtube helped me hone my skills

By B Rakesh Sharma

IMPHAL | July 17

With the motive of self employment Wanglembam Sonia (26) daughter of W. Ibomcha of AIR quarter, Lamphel started craft works of creating artificial flowers and pots out of waste papers without any formal training.

She has a passion of craft s since her childhood. She made dolls and even designed dresses from her young age.

To pursue her passion she left her education after completing 12 standards but due to lack of proper guidance she was not able to live up to her her dream for a long time.

As she continued her struggle she got inspired by a Youtube channel which tutors how to make artificial flowers and she was able to make artificial flowers by watching these tutorials from around February this year.

Relatives and friends, who got inspired by her works started buying the flowers made by her.

Speaking to IFP, Sonia said that from the moment she was able to make artificial flowers using only waste papers, glues and paints she started thinking about making a livelihood by selling handmade artificial flowers.

“Though making of artificial flowers was not a heavy work it needs a lot of efforts and time to make it. Sometimes it took a whole week to materialise a complete flower with the flower pot,” she said.

Sonia expressed her desire to participate in the upcoming Sangai festival as it will give her a platform to showcase her work of arts.

Since she does not have a good guidance in this field, she got stuck in the middle of her dream of giving self employment by selling artificial flowers, said Sonia.

She is planning to open a shop for herself as a first step of pursuing her ambition.

“In the world where getting of government job becomes a very big task, I will be able to give self employment to women of the state if my dream is fulfilled,” continued Sonia.

She added that, “As I do not have proper guidance and enough capital, it will be very thankful if any company or people support me in uplifting my craft works.”