Blog

At Ndara, we believe that each stitch, each handcrafted piece, is more than a product - it's a thread woven with stories of hope, resilience, and dreams. The impact of Ndara goes far beyond craftsmanship. Each Ndara artisan experiences a transformative journey that reaches into the heart of their families, their communities, and beyond. Ndara is not simply a workplace or a source of income; it is a catalyst for life-changing growth. Through their work, they inspire others around them and uplift entire neighborhoods, spreading hope and opportunity across generations.

As you read each of these portraits, you’ll see how the threads of each artisan’s story intertwine with Ndara’s mission: to create a legacy of empowerment and pride for artisans and communities alike.

During each market, we share portraits of our artisans along with their personal stories, revealing how their lives have changed since joining Ndara. Since language barriers prevent many artisans from connecting directly with clients, we’re displaying these stories in our Bangui boutique during our Christmas markets, giving customers a glimpse into the lives and dreams behind each handcrafted piece.

Please take the time to get to know our artisans and see the impact you can have. Your support changes lives and spreads hope.

Introducing Jocelyne

Jocelyne’s journey is stitched with determination and resilience. She learned to sew at a craft school, funded by her aunt, and dreamed of one day opening her own tailoring workshop. But in her final year of school, she became a mother, and those dreams were put on hold as she began sewing for local clients from her home.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Jocelyne struggled for work until a friend told her about a project to sew face masks. Eager for income, she joined a group of tailors, sewing masks for Ndara, where she first met Charlotte, Ndara’s founder. Jocelyne was inspired by Charlotte’s dedication and management style and joined Ndara as soon as the mask project ended. Here, she found the chance to grow her skills and ambition.

Since joining Ndara, Jocelyne has embraced countless new techniques. She recalls the patience it took to learn to make the computer pouches, redoing them until they were flawless. She also learned to sew elastic waistbands for our bomber jackets, something she had never done before, building her skill set stitch by stitch.

The opening of the Ndara boutique was a revelation for Jocelyne, offering her a glimpse into a world she hadn’t imagined. Together, the artisans took classes on managing inventory, displays, and invoices. She realized that something as simple as an improved display could transform sales, giving her the confidence to make changes and see immediate results. Today, she manages the boutique with pride, knowing that each skill she learns makes her a stronger artisan and businesswoman.

Since joining Ndara, Jocelyne has welcomed two more children, including her youngest daughter, Immaculée, just a few months ago. She has saved her earnings to purchase multiple sewing machines, allowing her to open a small workshop in her neighborhood and employ two tailors. The business skills she’s developed at Ndara—managing inventory, pricing, and profit calculation—have helped her run her workshop successfully and multiply Ndara’s impact across communities.

Looking to 2025, Jocelyne is eager to master sewing the reversible jackets, a challenging project that pushes her limits. She stays with Ndara because, here, she learns something new every month. She also loves the literacy classes, which have taught her to write basic French. For example, she can now write "shirt" or "dress," which she had no idea how to write before. Inspired by her own progress, she now encourages her children to learn to read and write, understanding firsthand how empowering these skills are.

For Jocelyne, Christmas is a time for family. Growing up, the aunt who cared for her would save for gifts, clothes, and a shared meal, giving Jocelyne her most treasured present—a doll. She hopes to recreate that joy for her own children this Christmas, cooking their favorite meal of chicken and rice, and for herself, a special local dish of ndoundja and koko na nyama.

In every piece she crafts, Jocelyne is building a brighter future for herself, her children, and her community. Her hands don’t just sew—they weave resilience and hope into the fabric of her life.