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Life's hard lessons have helped shape Shanti Kissoon’s craft of weaving “ugly into beauty” and “pain into pleasantries.”

Kissoon, 55, who grew up in the rural community of Cumuto, has had her share of trials.

She lost her mother, Phoolmat, to cancer when she was only 13, and had to quickly learn how she could help in the home, which she shared with her 12 other siblings.