SHONTA NOEL is a peculiar kind of girl – one who understands that her dreams are big and bound to take her to a place of no limitations, even as those dreams are not restricted to the accomplishments of others!

She is the girl who swept the Caribbean’s CAPE Business awards in 2015 lifting the standards of Guyana’s education sector one level higher. Now she is sweeping craft by storm with her unique creativity and excellence in design lifting the standard of the industry with her amazing talent.
Ruling her destiny is what she believes in, and that is why she said, “My dream is really to finish anything I start and I have started reading for my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Economics so I’m in pursuit of completing that. I don’t plan to stop there. I’ll go as long as life permits.”

Pepperpot Magazine decided to take a look into this side of Shonta Noel, bringing to the public’s eye this week, a young woman who is certainly on an intentional climb.
At age 20 and a year after CAPE, she admitted that the pace was hectic but committed herself to being a winner.
“It’s much more hectic since the workload has increased but like during CAPE, I am doing my best to make everything work. Knowing that I am an investment and there are expectations of me, I have always felt that I had no choice. I never gave myself a choice because I know that what I’ve been blessed with is not something to waste or be taken for granted,” Noel told the Pepperpot.

Her love for creating things and educating people is what has inspired her to try new things and venturing into different areas. She has worked with students of the David Rose School for the Special Needs on a project (G/50) which was manned by her mom, designer and humanitarian Dr. Sonia Noel. She taught the girls of the institution about developing stenciling patterns for fashion and other art designs.

“I find joy in the simpler things in life and I am (a) person who goes after what she wants. I want to be in a position where I can influence and bring about change especially in the education sector. I am very passionate about this field and I think that everyone deserves to have an equal and fair opportunity to learn,” Noel told the Magazine.
As Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Crafted by Chey, and a volunteer for humanitarian projects, she visited several schools in Georgetown, Bartica and even in Barbados to deliver educational talks and training to students.

Through volunteering, she has not only healed the hearts of those who needed her for a particular reason, but her actions have spoken to her own heart and made her “more appreciative of the things I have even though they might seem little to me but I always try to remember that there’s someone who wishes they had it,” the entrepreneur said.
Growing up was not a walk in the park, but the love of mom and grandma had kept her spirit in a place of appreciation. And careful observation would tell her that fashion designing was not yet the emphasis to make with the path she has decided to take in education.

But it was nature, tranquility and art that united to reveal that other side of Shonta Noel. With a mom who created much even while she was tucked comfortably in her womb, and being raised in a natural serene environment in Bartica, the encore of such creativity is not really a surprise.
“I enjoyed my childhood even though it was spent drawing, painting, reading, playing with my dolls or attempting to sell everything I got whether I received it as a gift or picked it from a tree.”

Before now, her business carried the name tag “Khaleesi’s” but this has been changed to “Crafted by Chey” to give a clearer definition of what it is about. Crafted by Chey makes customized greeting cards and invitations, party supplies, custom packaging (favour boxes and bags) and accessories. Everything is handmade and made to order.
Though the local craft industry has its challenges, she is determined to make a significant change.

“I’d like to see more appreciation for persons’ crafts. People tend to undervalue your time, creativity and efforts and don’t seem to comprehend how something could be valued at a specific asking price. Persons need to realize that most items in the industry are handmade and can take hours or days depending on the product,” Shonta Noel said.

Email: craftedbychey@gmail.com