Ella Psaila appears to be an ordinary 11-year-old with a fondness for bacon, moustaches, and the show Project Runway. However, a closer look reveals she has achieved more at her young age than many 20-year-olds.
In early 2017, Psaila took part in an entrepreneurial contest reminiscent of Dragons’ Den, called Lions’ Lair, where she competed against ten seasoned business owners. Her impressive pitch impressed the judges, earning her $1,000 to support her venture, Cause WE Create: an online platform enabling children to sell their handcrafted creations.
The Value of Creativity
Before becoming an entrepreneur, Psaila picked up sewing purely for enjoyment. “I wanted to sew because my Auntie Lynnette makes amazing costumes,” she shares. “A year later, my mom suggested the idea of launching my own business.”
Her mother, Monica Candy, reflects on how their creative activities forge a special parent-child bond. “I cut, and she sews. It’s quality time,” she notes, explaining how reducing screen time for sewing has enhanced their communication. “Making things together is very therapeutic.”
The Critical Role of Creativity
For children (and adults alike), the advantages of creativity are immense. Consider these benefits of engaging in creative endeavors:
Enhanced Motor Skills
Creative activities like drawing, sewing, and dancing help develop children’s fine motor skills and self-awareness while boosting confidence.
Improved Critical Thinking
Participating in creative play allows children to learn about the world. Art, in particular, enables them to think critically about their creations.
Increased Intelligence
Those piano lessons that seemed tedious may have been beneficial after all. Musical training has been linked to higher IQs in children. Similarly, other disciplined creative endeavors can enhance cognitive skills.
Transitioning to CEO
Psaila’s first business, Sew-Awesome, began as a gift-giving project. “We started making bookmarks for Ella’s class as Christmas presents,” says Candy, “and it evolved from there.”
On her website (sewawesomedesigns.com), Psaila offers hand-sewn cards, bookmarks, pouches, and other products that are relatively easy to create. More intricate items are reserved for her friends, each of whom receives a personalized gym bag for their birthday.
Her idea for the nonprofit Cause WE Create sparked during her participation in Lions’ Lair, a six-week entrepreneurial training program supported by the British Columbia Institute of Technology.
Cause WE Create aims to be a child-friendly equivalent of Etsy, forming “a community of creative kids,” according to Candy. The platform (causewecreate.org) is expected to launch in early 2018.
The Motivation Behind the Business
However, there’s a unique aspect to Cause WE Create. Kids joining must contribute a portion of their earnings to charity. Psaila and her mother are currently evaluating charities that resonate with them and are relatable for children. “Finding causes that we connect with is important,” says Candy.
Philanthropy has always been Psaila’s driving force—her motivation for transforming her passion into a business. She donates 25% of her sewing profits to Sewing Seeds, a nonprofit that supports women and children in Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Peru, and Mexico through sewing training initiatives.
“When I sell a bookmark and can donate the funds I’ve raised, I feel a genuine joy,” Psaila expresses. “Many children don’t experience that sensation because they lack businesses. I want to create that feeling for them.”
Being an entrepreneur requires hard work and dedication. Psaila’s schedule is filled with business planning, sewing, highland dancing, participating in Girl Guides, and keeping up with her school studies.
Yet, her mother believes the effort is worthwhile. “Watching her dedication and her contributions has been profoundly moving,” Candy says. “As a parent, it’s incredible to teach these values, and I’m learning just as much from her journey.”
