Awatif Baroud (Chad)

Awatif Baroud (Chad)

(Founder of Bet Mama)

Awatif Baroud, an enterprising woman based in N'djamena, the capital of Chad, possesses a remarkable vision that goes beyond the boundaries of conventional thinking in her country. While Chad heavily relies on its oil and extractive industries, Awatif firmly believes that empowering women and promoting local Chadian goods can lead to prosperity and a healthier nation.

Chad is blessed with abundant natural resources, yet it mainly exports raw materials and imports processed goods. Determined to change this status quo, Awatif, founded Soum Soum, a bag company that showcases Chadian products made from locally sourced raw materials. Breaking through societal norms, especially for a woman in a conservative country, Awatif demonstrates her unwavering commitment to making a difference.

Her company's offerings include finely crafted leather goods, from hand-made briefcases to women's handbags, wallets, belts, and desk sets. Not content with just leather, Awatif has also embarked on producing skin and hair care products based on Chadian traditions, incorporating ingredients like shea butter, honey, beeswax, and sesame oil. By tapping into the potential of Chadian resources, she seeks to foster a culture of self-reliance and sustainability, with a keen eye on expanding the range of locally manufactured products, including food.

However, the journey of a female entrepreneur in Chad is not without its challenges. Finding financial support to start a business is an uphill battle, given the limited presence of empowering financial institutions in the country. Moreover, societal and religious norms often restrict women's opportunities to pursue education and entrepreneurship. Awatif herself faced resistance from her husband, but her determination to secure a better future for her daughter prevailed, leading to her eventual success as a businesswoman.

In 2017, the World Bank recognized Awatif's potential and selected her for a specialized course in Tanzania, focused on preparing and drying food using solar technology. Through her company, Bet Mama, which means "mother's house," established in 2016, she now employs several single mothers, widows, and battered women, offering them a new lease on life.

Awatif's creativity and resilience shine through her work, such as melting bronze shell casings to create exquisite buckles and ornaments for her handbags. This innovation serves as a testament to her strong sense of values, equality, and justice—a heritage inherited from her family, with her father being a former Minister of Justice who fled the war and dictatorship in Chad.

Since founding Soum Soum, Awatif has received widespread recognition for her remarkable contributions to the Chadian handicraft industry. As the first woman in the leather sector with a significant company, she has earned her place as a prominent figure. Her talents have caught the attention of the First Lady of Chad, who invited her to join a foundation dedicated to women's empowerment and nurturing African talents.

In 2016, Awatif proudly represented Chad at an international handicrafts event, competing against 70 award-winning artisans from 20 countries. Her exceptional craftsmanship and dedication led her to win the prestigious first prize for African crafts at the MIVA event in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

Participating in the GWIM program provided Awatif with invaluable knowledge and expertise, consolidating her self-taught skills with solid theoretical foundations. Her relentless pursuit of education and excellence exemplifies her belief that African women possess incredible potential. She emphasizes the importance of breaking free from societal gender barriers, encouraging her fellow sisters to shatter the glass ceiling and defy gender stereotypes.

In her ongoing journey, Awatif Baroud continues to inspire others by creating opportunities, uplifting communities, and proving that with determination and a belief in oneself, any obstacle can be surmounted. Her commitment to empowering women and promoting locally made Chadian products serves as a beacon of hope for a brighter and more prosperous future for her nation.

(Information from RIF, Jeune Afriq, Chad/Cameroon Development Project 2018 End of Year Report)