Self-taught baker turning stress into dessert

For many young people, stress can be overwhelming – especially for those whose dreams are larger than the resources available to achieve them.

For Oshakati-based baker Ragmatah Candido, stress has become the driving force behind her determination to succeed through the art of baking.

As the founder of Ragmas Desserts, Candido began without a professional or educational background in baking. Instead, she started her journey with only flour, sugar and faith.

She says she has always been self-taught, finding a passion for baking – a hobby that truly makes her happy.

“The first thing I ever baked and sold was biscuits. Customers loved them, and that made me happy. It gave me the courage to put in more effort,” says Candido.

While this may have been about selling biscuits, she says it was more about realising that what she had created had brought joy to people, and thus, a seed was sown.

“Sometimes months can go by without orders. It was hard for me to bake because of the equipment and ingredients. The stress became real. I even decided to step out of baking for eight months, which made me stressed and discouraged,” she says.

For most people, it could have been the end. But for Candido, it became an opportunity to reflect. She says her father stood by her, encouraging her to continue and allowed her dreams to die.

He encouraged her to remember that she was good at baking and went as far as buying ingredients for her.

“This motivated me, and made me go back to my dream,” says Candido.

When Candido went back to baking in November last year, it was with determination, she says.

She says this is when orders began to trickle in, making her more confident.

“When I eventually earned my first N$1 000 from baking, I decided to invest in myself by pursuing a course to further my studies.”

Ragmas Desserts currently offers a variety of options such as biscuits, birthday cakes, cupcakes, doughnuts, pies, savoury platters and surprise hampers.

“My desserts taste different because they are made with love. I make sure that the ingredients I use are not harmful to my customers’ health.”

Her dream is to one day have her own bakery, not only to build her brand but also to build up others – helping them see their potential to generate an income while at home.

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DREAM IT, LIVE IT … Ragmas Desserts founder Ragmatah Candido is making her dream a reality through baking. Photo: Contributed

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