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Paul Draper is an Englishman who met
many Mauritians in London when he was studying there.
He came to Mauritius in 1974 and obtained Mauritian Citizenship.
He started a small project for unemployed youth in the Mauritian village
of Rose Belle.
In 1982 he and three colleagues started Craft-Aid in the town of Rose
Hill,Mauritius. The land was leased to them by the Anglican Diocese
of Mauritius with the help of the then Bishop of Mauritius the Rt.Rev.Trevor
Huddleston CR.
In 1987 he visited Rodrigues for Enfance & Partage and this gave
birth to the idea to open a Branch of Craft-Aid there.
He went to Rodrigues and settled there.
The Rodrigues Branch of Craft-Aid grew-and a purpose built Centre was
constructed on land leased from the Government.
The Gonzague Pierre Louis Special Learning Centre for Handicapped Children
was built on this land.
In l993 Paul Draper was awarded the MBE (Member of the British Empire.)
In 2001 he was made the first Honorary British Consul.in Rodrigues
He retired as Honorary Consul and as the Manager of Craft-Aid,Rodrigues
in 2003.
He lives on Rodrigues and helps the Centre as Advisor and Consultant.
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