When Rosemary and her family fled Rwanda to Tanzania in 1994, they left behind everything they knew in search of safety and a fresh start. After three years of living in refugee camps in Tanzania, Rosemary and her family moved to Kenya. Rosemary was just a little girl at the time, and her mother had to support the family on her own.
Growing up, Rosemary never had the chance to go to school. This, however, did not limit her desire to pursue a career. After watching countless videos of hairdressers styling their clients, she developed a passion for hairdressing. “I used to watch hairdressers styling clients’ hair on videos, and I started following the styles,” Rosemary shared when we visited her salon in Nairobi. To perfect her craft, she practiced braiding skills by helping at a neighbor’s salon until she eventually mastered a wide range of beautiful African hairstyles.
Rosemary started her business by offering mobile hairdressing services to clients in their homes. She later secured a job at a local salon and saved her earnings. Her dedication and talent quickly built her a loyal clientele, and by 2021, she had saved enough money to rent a small space to open her salon. The income from Rosemary’s business provided much-needed financial stability for her family.
In August 2023, Rosemary’s family met RefugePoint through a Community Navigator in Nairobi. The family received stabilization services, including rent, medical, counseling, and food support. These services enabled the family to quickly regain their economic ability to meet their daily needs and reduce dependency on assistance.
Rosemary also participated in RefugePoint’s Business Development Skills (BDS) training program, where she learned essential business management skills and developed a business plan for her salon. After the training, RefugePoint provided Rosemary with a business grant, which she used to expand her salon. “They took us through training and boosted my business… I bought a (hair) dryer gel polish and gel machine. I continued serving my clients and saved the profits to expand my business,” Rosemary shared.
“There is a big difference between when I first started [the business] and where I am now. I used to depend on my main clients, but ever since I opened this salon, I have received clients from everywhere,” Rosemary shared.
Rosemary’s salon has allowed her to meet her family’s needs, pay her daughter’s school fees, care for her young son, and consistently save through a local savings group.
*Name changed for protection