Issa Khalif | DRC Kenya
Sahara Hussein is a young woman from Yabicho location in Mandera North who had completed her secondary education and had no hopes of paying for her college education because her parents were poor and had no reliable source of income. She tried to secure employment several time in vain, however with no practical skills that could enable her to set up any form of business, life became a challenge. It was there and then that she decided to pursue vocational training in order to equip herself with lifelong skills. Sahara is one of 82 individuals who were selected to participate in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) under the BORESHA project in Mandera. Selection was done through community consultations to identify youth who needed support in technical skills training to enhance their chances of taking up opportunities in the labor market.
“I was trained by BORESHA to undertake a six-month course in Beauty Therapy. Immediately after I completed my training, I started practicing the skills at home and earned some small income from my neighbors and close friends. I then opened my own beauty salon from my small savings and bought a sign board with my business name for visibility purposes in order to attract customers to my premise,” says Sahara. After completing her course, she was provided with a start-up kit which included: combs and brushes, hood dryer, hair cutting shears, hair straighteners, blow dryers, aprons, water sprayers, shampoo bowls, plastic gloves, hair curlers, hot rollers, henna among others. “I started only with henna application services because I could not afford to buy other materials. BORESHA came in to support me with all the startup items that I required to build my business. I have already been invited to a few weddings now. I also do house calls apart from the walk-in clients. I now make a daily income of at least 20 USD to 30 USD. On weddings and Eid celebration days, I can even make up to 100 USD per day,” she adds.
Sahara used her course completion certificate to secure casual employment as a Beauty Therapy Instructor at Yabicho Vocational Training Centre and is earning a monthly income of 150 USD. “I can now contribute to the household income and I am also supporting my parents and siblings at home. I am now self-reliant and more resilient. I would really like to appreciate DRC and BORESHA project for changing my life and providing me with a sustainable skill and means of livelihood,” she concludes.
Sahara has been a beneficiary of BORESHA project and has now her business up and running due to the support she received from BORESHA project. The project in this case is achieving its main objective of strengthening resilience of communities and making them more self-reliant by creating more choices and employment opportunities for its target beneficiaries.