In the bustling streets of Ouagadougou, just like in remote villages, Burkinabè women are shaping the future with their hands. Blending tradition and innovation, they are transforming craftsmanship into a true lever of empowerment. In Burkina Faso, crafts are more than just a profession; they are a heritage. For many women, it also represents an escape from precarity and a way to assert their place in society. Anna Traoré, a renowned seamstress and head of the Wendy Création workshop, tells us her story.
Passionate about sewing since childhood, Madame Anna Traoré successfully turned a passion into a sustainable career. Today, she trains dozens of young girls and advocates for the recognition of women’s artisanal skills in Burkina Faso.
In her sewing workshop, located in the heart of the Burkinabè capital, colorful fabrics pile up and machines hum tirelessly. Madame Traoré Anna, in her radiant fifties, keeps her hands busy and her mind clear. “It all started at a young age, when we played with friends, I was always the group’s seamstress,” she confides.
She turned this childhood passion into a profession. After setting aside other paths, she officially launched into sewing in 1993. Nine years later, in 2002, she opened her own workshop. She hasn’t stopped since.
But beyond her own creations, what drives her is transmission. “I offer training in men’s, women’s, and even embroidery sewing, both in Ouagadougou and elsewhere. I’ve trained forty of them, and many are now independent.” Thanks to a partnership with Social Action, in collaboration with the ASMADE association, she welcomes young girls in difficulty.
Challenges, however, are plentiful. “Some don’t even have food. I often have to share what I have with them.” Equipment maintenance is another daily battle she faces. “Newcomers often break the machines because they don’t know how to use them. I can’t even make one last five or six years,” she says.
Dealing with clients isn’t always easy either. “They choose a model, then once the sewing is done, they want to change it, as if they hadn’t chosen it themselves!” she declares with a laugh.
Madame Traoré doesn’t consider herself rich, but she’s proud of what she has achieved. “I do a lot of things by myself. Today, you can’t rely on anyone anymore.” She mentions that some people think sewing is for failures. Yet, it’s quite the opposite. Sewing requires precision, calculation, and intelligence.
With her skillful hands and open heart, Madame Traoré weaves much more than just clothes. She shapes lives, restores confidence in young girls, and reminds us that women’s craftsmanship has its rightful place in the development of Burkina Faso.
This is the case of Madame Koffi/Ouédraogo Raïcha, a former student of Madame Traoré, now the owner of a sewing workshop. “I did two years of training with the nuns, but it was all theory. With Madame Traoré, she focused more on practice, and that helped me a lot,” she recounts. Being a neighbor of Traoré, this proximity facilitated contact and integration into the workshop. “My life has changed. Six years ago, I didn’t have a workshop and I was still learning, and today, thanks to God, I have my own workshop, and I’ve also trained other girls. I can provide for my needs and those of my family,” she said with a smile on her face. Grateful, she thanked Traoré for all the effort she puts in and the knowledge she has passed on to the young girls. “All the girls who passed through her sewing workshop and all those who didn’t give up are well-placed today,” she concludes proudly.
As for Mr. Sawadogo Issac, head of the education, health, and social action department at the mayor’s office of District 8 in Ouagadougou, he praised Madame Traoré’s initiative. According to him, she approached the mayor’s office to present her services and request a partnership in favor of vulnerable young girls. “We went to discover her work and found that she was doing a good job.” The partnership established therefore consisted of placing out-of-school or unschooled young girls aged 9 to 19 for sewing training. The idea was to offer practical training to promote their empowerment.
In his opinion, Madame Traoré exceeded initial expectations by supporting these young girls beyond the planned duration. In fact, in addition to the training, these girls benefited from an internship, and many now have their own workshops and also employ other people. “The placement of these girls is also a priority for the State. We work in partnership with the ASMADE association and even the World Bank, but we are looking for other partners,” he continued.
The training cost is estimated at 25,000 francs per month per beneficiary. Ten girls were supported by this project, which covered the provision of materials and a workshop for the young girls. Mr. Sawadogo wanted to encourage the promoter Anna by emphasizing that “there is nothing more admirable than a woman who works, supports her husband, and manages to be independent.”
It should be noted that in Burkina Faso, the informal sector remains a pillar of the national economy, representing a significant part of daily activity. In this often-overlooked landscape, inspiring figures stand out for their commitment and sense of sharing. This is the case of Madame Traoré, whose workshop is not limited to making clothes. By generously offering training to young people, often unemployed or in vulnerable situations, she plays the role of a trainer, a mentor, and even a moral support.
Although it sometimes falls outside regulatory frameworks, her workshop houses talents and expertise that deserve recognition and support. Encouraging and structuring such initiatives could ultimately transform this sector into a true lever for sustainable development in Burkina Faso.
