We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Zainab D Mansary a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Zainab D, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Day to day the world can seem like a tough place, but there’s also so much kindness in the world and we think talking about that kindness helps spread it and make the world a nicer, kinder place. Can you share a story of a time when someone did something really kind for you?

As an African, the kindness I receive from friends, family, or close relatives signifies God’s guidance towards my destiny. This concept of kindness, which I associate with humanity, has profoundly influenced my life and career choices, shaping me into the entrepreneur and humanitarian I am today. A pivotal moment occurred in 2015 when a simple invitation to dinner, initially thought to involve just a few friends, turned into an engaging gathering of eight people eager for adventure, challenges, and opportunities.

In the summer of 2015, during the severe intercommunal conflict in the Central African Republic, Bangui, I, along with many compatriots, returned to provide humanitarian aid to women and children suffering from disasters. At that time, I was just starting my freelance modeling career, and I seized the opportunity to use my platform to raise awareness about current events and gather funds for mothers and their children. As I mobilized resources for these vulnerable groups, I was approached by various international organization staff members. One friend, who has been working with a Pan-African non-profit since then, invited me to a dinner with some colleagues I had never met. I was the only woman at the table, and I realized I needed to stand out among these accomplished individuals, especially since they might have preconceived notions about me as a lingerie model.

During the dinner, questions flew around the table about my return during the conflict, my decision to come alone, and my commitment to help. For over an hour, I shared my story, and the group was moved by my vision, compassion, and the risks I was taking, especially knowing my son was only six years old at that time.

As the dinner concluded, one guest asked if I needed a ride home. I explained I lived just a five-minute walk from the restaurant, but he insisted on driving me for safety reasons. Upon arriving at my home, he requested to see where I lived and where I organized my humanitarian efforts. After touring my small studio, which I used as both an office and a medical assistance center for mothers and children, he inquired if I knew who he was. When I replied that I did not, he explained, “I was deeply moved by your passion for your country and its people, and your desire to help, no matter how small. I would like you to write an official letter to the WHO program manager tomorrow regarding your work so we can find a way to financially support your initiatives and provide primary medical care for your beneficiaries. I know it may not be much, but I believe your dedication deserves a helping hand.” This act of kindness reaffirmed my commitment to my personal and professional goals.

Zainab D, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As entrepreneurs and humanitarian actors, our work has no border, and its needs will never be enough. The most beautiful challenge that will always remain is the connectivity with people of all forms, races, cultures, ages, and genders. But it always comes down to one thing: love and compassion will always have one color.

One of the toughest problems faced by a non-profit organization and also as an individual advocating and trying to provide humanitarian aid or services differs from country, culture, and place where events occur where there’s a need for aid assistance, where some beneficiaries are receptive of receiving aids and others not because of past negative experience or political opinion which some time deprive a whole community or desperate individuals in needs, throughout all those challenges our team or myself never give up and always on the challenge to find soft way to overcome those challenges. Every challenge overcome am graceful and proud we have come close to saving a near silence of a true calling, I remain convinced we are on this earth not only to satisfy ourselves but to be connected to others who overwhelm our everyday lives and challenges and there should never be shame, pride or political opinion that can stop you or anyone to receive a helping hand in any forms.

Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?

This approach goes for anyone who is an entrepreneur providing commercial service or humanitarian aid services to individuals, the best way to foster brand loyalty is to produce an evaluation of expectations and grievings and provide a before and after assessment that is integrated into all services or product provide to a client, which allows them to have the feeling of being part of the brant and any opinion they may have has it place to enhance our work and goods they consume.

Do you have any stories of times when you almost missed payroll or any other near death experiences for your business?

In 2016, in a remote rural village, we implemented a malnutrition project in collaboration with an international organization. This was our second project, and we faced challenges working with the financial system of our counterpart. One of our financial reports was postponed due to errors, and if those errors were not corrected, we would not receive payment.

During this time, more than 35 local staff members were waiting to be paid. In a desperate situation, some individuals took my staff hostage for one week. This crisis had put the lives of my personnel at risk of life or death, threatened the continuation of our humanitarian work and my career. through that experience have leaned to always have a 20% of project liguidity on reseve for any surprise because of late payment from financial partners.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jairevefoundation.org
• Instagram: sdbmansare
• Twitter: zainabd_mansary

Image Credits

J’ai Rêvé Foundation (JRF)