Fabriola’s Story: Motherhood and Opportunity

At dawn, before the first rays of sun touch Madagascar's Bay of Antongil, Fabriola is awake. She prepares for her day, cares for her young son, and cooks with rainwater brought home from work. Life as a young mother in rural Madagascar (or anywhere, for that matter) leaves little room for rest — and even less for certainty. But this year, Fabriola looks to the future with confidence, thanks to her return to work.

Fabriola sews wild silk cocoons on a Singer sewing machine. When the electricity cuts, as often happens in rural Madagascar, her machine operates on solar power from roof-mounted panels.

"I have a son. He's a year and a half old. I value my work because it lets me provide for both of us." - Fabriola, SEPALI Madagascar Wild Silk and Raffia Artisan

Raised in a distant village along the Antainambalana River, Fabriola first received training as an artisan in the SEPALI Madagascar workshop when she was 19 years old. A high school education wasn't an economic option for her. But she was a skilled weaver of traditional mats, baskets and hats from natural fibers like raffia palm, pandanus, and native sedges. At the time, Fabriola had never seen wild silk cocoons or operated a Singer sewing machine.

"When SEPALI came to my village and saw my creations, they liked them. That's how I joined the team," she said in a recent interview. At first, she was unsure — would she be able to learn a new skill? Would it make a difference in her life? With patient mentorship and steady support, her hands shaped stunning crafts. These would come to be sold under the shared social impact enterprise, Tanana Madagascar.

Now 26 and living in the coastal town of Maroantsetra, Fabriola creates textiles from wild silk and raffia collected by farmers in her own community, and others upriver and across the Bay. Each textile carries the legacy of her Betsimisaraka culture and the promise of the future she is building for herself and for her son.

A skilled artisan and young trainees produce traditional crafts from raffia and other natural materials in northeastern Madagascar. Unlike these traditional fibers, wild silk cocoons of endemic rainforest moths are new to local artisans. With CPALI as a guaranteed buyer, and training provided in sustainable methods by SEPALI Madagascar, producing wild silk and raffia textiles incentivizes farmers to regenerate slopes with native trees and supports local income through the arts.

Two years ago, things were less certain. When she became pregnant late in the pandemic, Fabriola knew she would need to stop working to care for her son. As a solo parent, there was no guarantee that she would return to formal work as an artisan.

"When Fabriola left the SEPALI Madagascar workshop, another young artisan took her place," Lead Artisan Lalaina Raharindimby told Rachel Kramer, CPALI's Executive Director. Waiting in the wings, that artisan was keen for her own opportunity to earn a fair wage creating this new form of textile.

Occasionally, when there was extra weaving that could be done at home, Lalaina would send materials to Fabriola to help her earn money while caring for her baby. It wasn't very often, but every little bit helped.

Although Fabriola couldn't work, she remained close to the team. She wore the SEPALI Madagascar wrap and shirt and marched with pride with the other artisans on International Women's Day.

Fabriola (far left) joined Lalaina Raharindimby (next to far left) and other women on the SEPALI Madagascar artisan team to celebrate valo mars, International Women's Day, on 8 March 2025.

"This March, Lalaina shared a photo on WhatsApp that caught my attention," said Rachel. "There was one woman I didn't recognize among the artisan team. I asked Lalaina about her." Lalaina shared Fabriola's story, and said that she wished to return to work.

"But we don't have a job for her," said Lalaina.

"This kept me up at night," said Rachel. "We're working mothers running two organizations and a social enterprise focused on building a better future. Who are we if we can't create a job for a skilled mom who's ready to return to work?"

As a small non-profit with a social enterprise still finding its way to the break-even point, the resources to grow the Madagascar team from 19 to 20 members weren't on hand.

“We're working mothers running two organizations and a social impact enterprise focused on building a better future. Who are we if we can't create a job for a skilled mom who's ready to return to work?” - Rachel Kramer, CPALI Executive Director

CPALI is committed to providing fair wages and offering dignity through sustainable work. "We rely on donations to cover gaps. Every dollar that goes to our social enterprise is one that can't be spent on local grants for tree plantings, wild silk training for farmers, innovations like cookers that use biochar from invasive plants, or U.S.-side operating expenses. These are all key to our environmental and social mission. And to our ability to continue serving communities in Madagascar," said Rachel.

But where there's a will, there's a way. A first step was sitting down with Tanana Madagascar's General Manager, Kyley Schmidt, and Lalaina, and looking at the production chain to see where savings opportunities might lie. The process illuminated that a lot of the work of final quality control was being done in the U.S. on tasks like trimming loose ends, ironing, and other preparations before products reach buyers. More of this could be done in Madagascar with the right training to meet buyers' standards.

A two-part solution was devised: to fund a new position in Madagascar for Fabriola, and find a volunteer to support product preparation in the U.S. "After several months of searching, we found Scherri Allen," said Rachel. Scherri spent her career in the retail industry. Recently retired, she cares about our mission, has extraordinary attention to detail, and is incredibly giving of her time. By volunteering, Scherri helps CPALI devote resources where they're needed most--like creating this opportunity for Fabriola to return to fair work.

By volunteering, Scherri helps CPALI devote resources where they're needed most--like creating this opportunity for Fabriola to return to fair work.

That investment is bringing big dividends. In addition to making wild silk and raffia textiles, Fabriola is now an artisan trainer. This summer, she taught village-based women to make endemic silk bird ornaments and other products under a small grant that Tanana Madagascar received from Thistle Farms. Rain or shine, Fabriola's commitment is unwaivering.

Fabriola (center), Lalaina Raharindimby (center left), and colleagues on the SEPALI Madagascar artisan, agroforestry, and biochar training teams journey to a remote village on a forest path in northeastern Madagascar.

For Fabriola, fair employment crafting wild silk and raffia textiles, and training other women to do the same, isn't just about earning a wage. It’s about dignity — about standing tall in her community and knowing that her work matters. In her hands, a job has become a livelihood. And a livelihood is a life of possibility for herself and for her son.

Fabriola tells her story in the new short film, Wild Silk: Madagascar's Threads of Change that premieres in October 2025.

Help us grow fair opportunities for solo mothers like Fabriola. Consider donating to CPALI today.

This season, you can purchase wild silk and raffia textiles made by Fabriola and the wider SEPALI Madagascar artisan team at TananaSilk.com. Every purchase supports our programs.

Photo credits: Matthew Scott and Mamy Ratsimbazafy

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