Meet Zainab Djiwo Mansary | Founder & CEO Chains Mother corporation

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zainab Djiwo Mansary and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zainab Djiwo, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After I finished full-time college around 2004, I started working for retail companies such as Zara, United Colors of Benetton, and another brand whose name I don’t recall. I had a difficult relationship with one manager who felt that I was overstepping my role. It was at this point that I realized I didn’t like being subordinate. This realization led me to consider starting my own business, as I didn’t enjoy being in a subordinate position.

After completing a six-month business management certification course, I opened my own retail business, which was successful until the 2008 global recession forced me into bankruptcy. In 2009, at the age of 25, I became a mother. A year later, I started working as a freelance lingerie model for three years. In 2014, I decided to take a trip to Africa from Belgium, where I had been living for seven years. Upon arriving in the Central African Republic on November 28, I found an ongoing inter-community conflict, which led to innocent lives being lost and families and children facing vulnerable situations, including food and shelter shortages and health issues. I decided to reach out to friends and relatives to start a non-profit initiative to help women and children in dire need. This initiative has achieved great success over the past 10 years. In 2020, the organization was granted special consultative status at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Currently, I am in California with my children, contributing to the Los Angeles County and Santa Monica communities, addressing challenges such as shelter shortages, street homelessness, financial hardships for women and children, and meeting their basic daily needs. I believe that combining efforts and best practices will lead to sustainable development and progress in eradicating these issues. This belief is what led me to found the non-profit organization Chains Mothers in September 2023. (The specific purpose of this corporation is to develop and operate low-income housing for families and individuals persons facing homelessness to transitional housing and permanent housing. Collect new and gently essential baby and mother’s gear to distribute to low-income families through selected individuals and groups of the nonprofit.) under California law .

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started my journey as an entrepreneur/self-employed in my 20s. It’s amazing to see how my career has transformed from retail to freelance lingerie modeling to humanitarian work and charity. It has been challenging to juggle opportunities for relationships, pregnancy, motherhood, and being a hard-working entrepreneur while navigating the complexities of gender dynamics.

As the founder and CEO of a non-profit organization for the past eleven years, and a mother four, I have been able to connect with people and develop a better understanding of others. What makes me most proud and excited is having the ability to alleviate the burdens of those who are struggling and finding happiness in overcoming challenges. My journey to this position began with self-awareness and the decision to start my own business. While the initial choice was relatively easy due to my background in business management, overcoming challenges has been the most difficult aspect. Unlike traditional corporations focused on profit and loss, managing a humanitarian organization involves addressing emotional trauma, and burnout, and maintaining a balance between professional and personal life. The hardest lesson I’ve learned is that you can’t save everyone, and there will be losses along the way. However, I believe that anything is possible with determination. I want the world to understand that we don’t have to face challenges alone, and together we can make a difference. Even a small amount of knowledge can create change.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, begin by visiting the city of Santa Barbara due to its historical and architectural significance. Next, travel to San Diego and Los Angeles for enjoyable experiences at Santa Monica Piers, Venice Beach, and Marina del Rey. Don’t miss the opportunity to eat at Father’s Office in Culver City for the best burger.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate my shoutout to the amazing teams of women working at the non-profit organizations: St. Joseph Family Center, doctors, nurses, and social workers at Venice Family Clinic on Pico Boulevard in Venice, and finally the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District on 2828 Fourth Street (Child Development Services) a big shoutout to Sharon Lee, and Terri Itomura. This shoutout is a life-saving call. Whether you’re a long-distance traveler or a local in need of help finding housing resources, food banks, education, or health services, these places can provide care and support. They welcome individuals of all backgrounds, including those of different sexual orientations, races, and faiths. You will be received with care, compassion, and love. This is one of the reasons why, once you land in Los Angeles, you can’t help but have a strong will to make a difference and contribute to this wonderful city.

“They passionately expressed their love for their work, inspiring me deeply and encouraging me to maintain a presence in Los Angeles. This led to the founding of Chains Mothers Corporation to support and contribute to the authentic charity work of Los Angelenos and hopefully to carry out internationally.”

Website: https://www.jairevefoundation.org

Instagram: chainsmothers