RefugePoint supported me with food assistance, helped me to enroll in Kenya’s National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), and provided rent support. Their help allowed me to focus on growing my business and securing my children’s future.
My name is Chantal, and I am a businesswoman from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). I sell vitenge (African fabric) and shoes in Nairobi, Kenya.
In 2016, I was forced to flee my home in the DRC due to violence. One early morning, at around 5 a.m., gunshots erupted outside our house. My husband went to check, only to find people running in terror. We followed, escaping into the forest. Tragically, as my husband tried to gather our cattle and rejoin us, he was shot and killed. Left alone with my six children, I had no choice but to keep moving. For two weeks, we walked through the forest at night, hiding during the day to avoid being seen. Eventually, truck drivers transported us to Nairobi.
We found temporary shelter with our fellow Congolese in the Soweto area, but the space was too small for my children and me. I needed to find a way to survive. Without money or knowledge of the local language, I started washing clothes and cleaning houses. The work was inconsistent, but I did whatever I could to feed my children.
My Kenyan neighbors taught me about Chamas (women’s savings groups). I joined one, and when I explained my struggles, they allowed me to take the first turn to receive funds.
I discovered that few people in Nairobi were selling Vitenge, the beautiful African fabric worn by many in my home country. With guidance from Kenyans and Somali residents, I found my way to Eastleigh, where the fabric was sold. I bought a few pieces and started selling them to my neighbors. At first, I struggled to calculate the currency’s value and got lost trying to expand my market, but I persevered. Eventually, I started seeing profits.
In 2022, I heard about RefugePoint through other refugees. They told me about Augustine, a Community Navigator, who could help me connect with the organization. It took time—many months of waiting—but finally, in December 2023, I was enrolled as a client. RefugePoint supported me with food assistance, helped me to enroll in Kenya’s National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), and provided rent support. Their help allowed me to focus on growing my business and securing my children’s future.
With RefugePoint’s support, I relocated to a safer and more comfortable home. Before, my children were constantly sick due to poor living conditions, but now they are healthier and happier. RefugePoint also provided business training and a grant, which allowed me to expand my business significantly. I found a small space near a busy road to sell my goods. My sales improved, and I could pay for my children’s school fees. My children are learning, we have food on the table, and I am saving for the future. I no longer feel helpless; I feel empowered.
To other refugees, I say: be confident, know your strengths, and choose a path that suits you. Do not simply follow what others are doing—find what you love and pursue it with dedication. My journey has not been easy, but I have learned to love my business and work hard daily.
Carol, Chantal’s case manager at RefugePoint, shared, “It has been great partnering with Chantal and seeing her bold steps toward self-reliance.”