Aicha Dalila Yaro from Burkina Faso is OD Young Person of the Month – December 2025

Dalila is a Burkinabè visionary social entrepreneur, an expert in strategic project management, and a passionate community builder. Her life is characterized by ceaseless activity and commitment, a trait that began early.Dalila’s entrepreneurial journey started at the age of 10, where she was already honing her business acumen by selling homemade bissap, ginger, and baobab juices during school holidays. This early drive wasn’t just commercial; throughout her schooling, she was deeply committed to social activities and volunteering.Built on the foundation of meticulous planning and compassion, Aidy Pearls proves that a business can be a powerful engine for social change. When our clients wear the brand, they are wearing empowerment, gaining confidence from the premium artistry while ensuring they empower a whole community with every purchase. Alongside her dynamic entrepreneurial journey, Dalila continues her polyvalent career by working with non-profit organizations with the core goal of building high-impact communities across the region. Her professional life and her social enterprise are seamlessly linked by the mission to empower and uplift.

What Are Her Successes Thus Far?

Dalila’s commitment to strategic project management has translated into verifiable, high-impact achievements for Aidy Pearls. To date, she has successfully trained and empowered more than 400 women, providing them with essential skills for economic autonomy. The brand’s local success was cemented with the opening of a shop in Ouagadougou, while its growing international appeal is demonstrated by established representations in countries like Côte d’Ivoire and Mali, successful special events in different countries, and the implementation of worldwide shipping. Looking forward, Dalila is currently focused on building a production center, which will serve as a permanent hub for scaling operations and future training programs, further institutionalizing the brand’s impact.

What Are Her Plans for the Future?

The immediate future of Aidy Pearls is focused on strengthening its infrastructure to deepen its community impact. The primary plan is to fully develop the new production center, transforming it into a high-capacity facility. Once the center is operational, the goal is to train even more women and young people within the dedicated space, significantly increasing Aidy Pearls’ capacity for both production and empowerment. Ultimately, Dalila intends to leverage the brand’s consistent success and ethical mission to responsibly expand its market reach globally.

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What Obstacles Did She Come Across and How Did She Overcome Them?

The most significant hurdles Dalila encountered centered on securing consistent access to resources and finance required to sustain and scale the enterprise. Rather than seeing this as a roadblock, Dalila used her strategic skills to overcome it. She actively sought out and secured a crucial grant and valuable mentorship opportunities, which provided both the capital and the strategic guidance necessary to stabilize and develop the brand. Her method involves continuous self-improvement and adaptability, stating, “I am always learning and looking for sustainable solutions,” ensuring that Aidy Pearls is resilient and less reliant on single funding sources for its long-term growth.

Advice for Young People

Dalila’s advice stems directly from her experience combining fierce passion with pragmatic action: “The most important things are to never give up and to do it with passion and purpose.” She stresses the importance of deliberate action: “Always focus on building, building relationships, building skills, building community, and building a sustainable business structure.” For Dalila, the goal is to create something that lasts beyond your immediate effort.