Ahmed’s passion for helping others stems from his upbringing and remains a guiding principle in his life. “Helping others makes me happy,” Ahmed, a young father of four, shared with us during a visit to his shoe shop in Nairobi, Kenya. While studying engineering, Ahmed actively volunteered with the Red Cross, where he dedicated his time to raising awareness about first aid and engaging local communities in educational drama and theater. However, conflict and political unrest forced Ahmed to flee his country in 2013, leaving behind his wife.
When he arrived in Kenya, Ahmed encountered numerous challenges, including language barriers, unemployment, and economic hardship. Despite these obstacles, Ahmed did all he could to support his family’s needs. In 2015, after two years of separation, Ahmed was joyfully reunited with his wife.
In October 2022, Ahmed met a RefugePoint Community Navigator who referred his family to RefugePoint’s Urban Refugee Protection Program. At the time, Ahmed was juggling roles as a Madrassa (religious teacher), and a water vendor. After a thorough assessment, Ahmed and his family received vital stabilization support, including assistance with rent, food, and a business grant of Ksh 80,000 (approximately $600) in May 2023.
Ahmed diligently saved his business profits and then launched a shoe business in a booming Eastleigh market. With the RefugePoint grant, Ahmed rented a stall and upgraded the quality of his merchandise. Ahmed now employs a fellow refugee in his store, extending opportunities to others in need.
“Self-reliance means being happy and having freedom. If your mind is healthy and not stressed, you can grow from small to big. If your family eats twice or thrice in a day, at least, you get happiness. Beyond that, self-reliance is about helping others, even if it is small. That is what I call self-reliance. I want to say I am proud of (myself). Nothing makes me happier than providing for myself independently,” Ahmed shared.
Looking ahead, Ahmed dreams of further expanding his enterprise by opening another store and continuing his journey as a beacon of hope and generosity in his community. “My hope for the future is to educate my children and help them succeed in life by giving them a quality education, the opportunity to live peacefully and to have freedom of movement, and the opportunity to expand my work (business) to a company of my own,” shared Ahmed. His story exemplifies the transformative power of compassion and resilience, inspiring others to lend a helping hand wherever possible.