OUR CREATORS
Little Ndaba engages women from different communities around Zambia to hand knit and crochet toys. For most of the women that work with Little Ndaba, opportunities for earning any kind of income is limited due to lack of education, skills and the burden of large families to look after. Using skills passed down through the generations and having the opportunity to work from home around their family and farming commitments, gives the women a chance to contribute to their family finances. For some, it is their family’s only source of income.
In order to be able to reach more women further away we split the production process into two parts - making the pieces of a toy and joining the pieces.
PIECEMAKERS
We have several groups of women from different villages and communities around Zambia that make the individual pieces of our toys. Cotton is sent either by bus or driver which the women collect and divide amongst themselves. They come together several times during the production to check each other’s work, solve any challenges (and of course to have a good natter) before everything is counted and sent back to us at Little Ndaba.
JOINERS
Our joiners are a bit like an elite knitting brigade! They work out of our studio and they are our experts. They know the toys inside and out and they also make up our prototypes for new designs. Trainers too, they will often accompany our manager on her trips to the Piece Makers groups to give guidance to the on new designs.
Once pieces of toys are received our joiners will wash and assemble them. The most important part of their job being the careful crocheting of our very distinct feature, common to all species of Little Ndaba animals - our eyes!
The Team
CHARLOTTE BARR
Founder, Designer and Director
Born and bred in Zambia, Charlotte has a background in Early Childhood education and a big love for art and design. This has resulted in a business with a passion for making a difference and connecting little people around the world to the beautiful animals that share their planet.
MARTHA BOWA
Accounts and Operations
Martha is from Zambia and enjoys working with both numbers and design which makes her just perfect for keeping on top of the accounts and helping out in operations, especially quality control and cuteness appeal.
CAROL NGWIRA
Operations and Orders
Carol has Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and South Africa in her genes! Her passion is for working with the women, helping to challenge limiting beliefs and mind sets and develop the necessary skills and attitudes to be successful regardless of their challenges. She is responsible for ensuring orders are are completed in good time and to the right standards.
INNOCENT KAMUTAYENI
Yarn puller and driver
Innocent, also from Zambia is in charge of our cotton. He pulls thread from cones of cotton creating yarns of different sizes using a modified wood turning machine. He has also just recently passed his driver’s licence and will soon take on the position of Little Ndaba driver, collecting women to bring to the studio, making deliveries and running errands.