Jessica Masibo

My name is Tarisisi. I come from North Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In 2022, I was forced to flee my home due to war and insecurity. Rebels attacked our home and burned it down. My parents, three siblings, and neighbors were all killed in the house fires. I am the only person remaining in our family. I survived by escaping through a back window. Along the way, a good samaritan gave us a free ride from Goma to Bunagana in Uganda.

While in Uganda, I met my former neighbor, Juliette.  She had also lost her entire family. We developed a friendship and later got married. From Bunagana, we traveled to the Busia border and crossed into Kenya. We had no shoes or money. A hotel owner in Busia covered the cost of our travel to Nairobi.

In 2021, we arrived in Nairobi and met Peter, a fellow Congolese, at the bus station. He welcomed us to his home and provided us with food, clothing, and shoes. The following day, he took us to UNHCR for registration. He also trained me to sell phone accessories. We eventually moved out of my friend’s home to our own place.

For months, I sold phone accessories, but the profits could not sustain us. I was unable to afford my monthly rent. That’s when I learned about RefugePoint from Peter and his wife. We went to the RefugePoint office and explained our situation. In November 2023, RefugePoint began supporting me as a client. RefugePoint assisted me with food support, rent assistance, and medical help for my wife. Later, I was enrolled in business training, where I received a grant.

I used the grant to rent a stall where I sold phone chargers and covers, headphones, and other phone accessories. Recently, I started selling nyama choma (barbecued meat). I roast approximately 7 kg of meat daily to generate extra income. My family has undergone significant changes since being assisted by RefugePoint. Now, I can depend on myself. I can purchase food, pay my house rent, buy clothes, cooking gas, a bed, and chairs.

My daughter, Mary, is our hope. We plan to enroll her in school soon. Although my wife still faces health issues, life is better now.

We are happy as a family because we have something to do for work.  I can provide for my family’s primary needs. We are rebuilding—day by day.

Mercy, Tarisisi’s case manager, shared, “Tarisisi has demonstrated resilience and financial responsibility. He is managing his business effectively, which is now performing exceptionally well.”

Jeremie fled Burundi in 2016 after rebels invaded his home, attacked him, and stole his possessions. He journeyed through Uganda before reaching Nairobi, Kenya.

Francine, Jeremie’s wife, also faced gender-based violence at the hands of the same rebels in Burundi. In 2018, she fled to Kenya, where she met and later married Jeremie. Today, they are proud parents of three children.

In Nairobi, Jeremie’s family faced challenges, including language barriers. “We couldn’t communicate in English or Kiswahili,” Jeremie shared. “We felt ashamed.”  Over time, they learned the local languages and slowly began to integrate.

Jeremie found work as a night guard, earning KES 7,000 (about US$50) per month—barely enough to support his family, who lived in a single-room house that occasionally flooded during the rainy season.

In 2023, one of RefugePoint’s Community Navigators introduced the family to the organization. At the time, Jeremie was struggling to provide food and shelter for his family. RefugePoint provided emergency assistance to Jeremie and his family, including food, rent, and medical support.  Jeremie also enrolled in RefugePoint’s business training, where he learned record-keeping, integrity in the workplace, and financial management. “Our lives have changed for the better. RefugePoint helped my family relocate from our previous residence to a better place,” Jeremie shared.

Today, Jeremie operates a small real estate marketing office, managing apartments for multiple landlords and earning a living from commissions. “ RefugePoint has done a lot for me and my family. Now I can depend on myself. We can now employ other people to work for us, and we pay them. I also learned a lot during business training. I know how to keep a record of my business,” Jeremie shared.

Francine also opened a business selling cassava, cereals, and groceries. Her shop continues to grow.

Carol, Jeremie’s case manager at RefugePoint, shared, “The couple’s self-reliance journey is remarkable because their livelihood has grown into a highly profitable and successful business characterized by consistent financial growth and effective management practices.”

My name is Sahara. I am a refugee and a mother residing in Kenya. I am a businesswoman selling clothes. I fled my home country (Somalia) due to fear, chaos, and war. Life was extremely harsh due to the killing, rape, and everything evil you could think of. The harsh circumstances made me flee. 

In 1994, I traveled to Nairobi by bus with a friend. I reside here (Kenya) because it is a safe environment. During my time in Kenya, I have never experienced any threats of violence or assault. 

The financial hardship I faced forced me to look for work. I started my clothes business because clothes are easy to transport—I can carry the clothes for sale on my shoulders. I started selling clothes, but I could not find a location. During prayer hours, I placed my clothing on the street in front of businesses. I made a few sales and made a profit. Then, when the shop owners returned, I’d grab the clothes and carry them on my shoulders. I kept selling the clothes while walking. That’s how I started working.

I was enrolled in the RefugePoint program in 2023 upon referral from Rukiya (a RefugePoint Community Navigator). What I remember from (RefugePoint’s) business training is saving, capital preservation, and avoiding unplanned spending.

The work comes with numerous challenges, such as street closures, city council restrictions, and downpours. It requires a lot of patience. I am satisfied with this work, as it’s our primary source of income. It’s very important for me. I’d rather work hard than beg or rely on neighbors. So much has changed for the better. I feel self-motivated and confident in my abilities.

My family is doing well. My kids and I are doing well and have no difficulties. We live free. Whatever we get is ours. Praise be to God. My hope for the future is that I will become successful in life. My kids need to do well. I wish them happiness, good jobs, and a wonderful life. I hope to transition from being a hawker to being a shop owner. That’s our hope.

Carol, Sahara’s case manager at RefugePoint, shared:

“I am proud of Sahara because she worked smart and established her clothes business. I observed her income increase; then, she relocated to a modern apartment; her resilience was remarkable. Sahara runs her business efficiently and has since graduated from the program.”