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Meet Willeen of Willeen’s Arts and Crafts from Arniston​.

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Willeen de Villers of Willeen's Arts and Crafts in Arniston.
Willeen is a mountain climber. Growing up in rural Arniston, her goal was always to make something out of herself. To become an example for people to look up to.

“I thought, there’s a mountain in front of me but what will happen if I start working on this mountain? So I started working on this mountain.”

She started her business in 2003 and has since grown to be one of the most popular eating spots in Arniston. She works hard and says the journey has not been easy, however she would not trade it for anything else.

“It’s not easy but for me it’s worth it. What makes me feel proud is if somebody asks how I feel about what I did today, and I can say I’ve done a remarkable job compared to where I came from. There are so many people I’ve met along the way that I never imagined I would meet in my whole life. People came, and inspired me. It makes it worthwhile to be somebody, to do something in a small place like this.”

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Contributors: Nomathemba Nkosi, Noluthando Pupuma, Vasanthie Naidoo, Faizel Emam, Thobekile Masuku, Michael Smith, Elizabeth Van Der Walt, Solomon Mananga, Willene De Villiers, Louis Petrus Nigrini, Wynand Burger, Gené Strauss, Rudolf du Preez, Ronel Germishuys, Carolyn Malan, Rudolph Dante, Pierre Versfeld, Chantal Bezuidenhuit, Marice Mercuur, Phillip Modiba, Paballo Motsifane, Ben Schempers, Jan Potgieter, Suné Van Jaarsveld, Karen Bezuidenhout, Hendrik Eksteen, Yanick Bathfield, Matthew Brownell, Gregor Rohrig, Robyn Viljoen, Gugulethu Hlekwayo, Lunika Phillip, Caitlyn Leigh and Elton Dick.