Chantal Donvide N. has produced beautiful batiked cloth for over 10 years, combining techniques she learned in Ghana, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. For many years, she dyed the cloths and sold them in her village while working from home as a seamstress. In 2007, with the help of Peace Corps volunteer, she founded aklala batik and dedicated her talents to building a successful business that creates fashionable accessories designed with traditional crafts in mind.

Since then, Chantal's business has grown as she has learned to promote her craft and run a successful operation. She has organized a team of women who transform the batik cloth into beautiful handbags and accessories, incorporating materials such as traditional clay beads and hand carved hardwood accents.

aklala has participated in three international trade shows and has expanded operations to a new workshop and retail location, all while creating jobs and opportunities for other women in the area. Chantal is currently in the process of using revenue from the sale of her products to finish the construction of a workshop which will offer free training and employment to orphans and those unable to afford traditional trade school instruction.