Jocelyne Mpila, once identified as a vulnerable individual through the Single Social Registry (RSU), has transformed her life through the Social Protection and Productive Inclusion of Youth (PSIPJ) project. After receiving vocational training and earning a certificate of aptitude, she became a “Mamapreneur,” a term used to describe women entrepreneurs who manage community childcare centers. Today, Jocelyne leads as a “Mama Mobokoli,” meaning “a mother who nurtures,” embodying leadership and dedication to women’s empowerment through entrepreneurship.
In Brazzaville, the PSIPJ project has launched a community crèche initiative that provides affordable childcare services in working-class neighborhoods. These centers, managed by trained women like Jocelyne, enable mothers to balance work and family responsibilities. Modeled after the Kidogo initiative in Kenya and implemented in partnership with MEDRAC Africa, the project has already established two nurseries that have seen high demand. The growing success of this model is prompting consideration for expansion into other cities such as Pointe-Noire.
At the Soukissa market nursery, Jocelyne spends her days surrounded by children under the age of three, engaging them through play-based learning and helping them build new vocabulary. She nurtures each child with care, balancing discipline with empathy. “Working with children is truly my vocation,” she says, ensuring that each activity fosters learning, security, and joy. The program not only supports children’s development but also empowers working mothers and creates employment opportunities for women.
Before joining the program, Jocelyne faced significant challenges. Coming from a modest background, she could not pursue higher education and relied on a small local business to survive. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she was registered as a vulnerable person under the Lisungi social safety net. Four years later, PSIPJ contacted her for an opportunity to participate in the Mamapreneur training program. Despite being seven months pregnant with her second child, Jocelyne attended the intensive three-month course, covering topics such as early childhood development, business management, first aid, and child protection. With financial support from the PSIPJ—bi-monthly transfers to cover food and transport—she persevered through the physical and logistical difficulties.
A difficult childbirth briefly interrupted her training, but Jocelyne returned soon after, completing a one-month internship at a public crèche under the Ministry of Social Affairs and Humanitarian Action. Her resilience paid off when she received her certificate of aptitude, officially validated by the General Directorate of Qualifying Training and Employment.
In the program’s first cohort, sixteen Mama Mobokoli trainees completed their training. Five of them now work alongside Jocelyne at the Soukissa market nursery, which opened in July 2025 as Brazzaville’s first community crèche. Another six work at the Total market nursery in Bacongo, opened in October the same year. The centers have quickly become popular due to their affordable fees—about 12,500 CFA francs ($22) per month—and their warm, professional care. Demand has exceeded capacity, with Soukissa enrolling 39 children and Total market serving 65, surpassing their initial targets.
The success of the Mama Mobokoli initiative highlights its potential for expansion across the Republic of Congo. MEDRAC Africa continues to assess new sites for additional nurseries to meet growing demand. Jocelyne, now a symbol of determination and empowerment, plans to expand her current facility and dreams of one day managing her own independent childcare center. Reflecting on her journey, she says proudly: “I am ambitious and confident that I will achieve great success.”
