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.”