A Fresh Start in a Barber’s Chair
- Kyle Kvamme
- 41 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Turn right off a main road in Nairobi, follow the dirt path for a few minutes, and you’ll come across a small shipping container that houses two businesses. Stepping inside one of them — Emelda’s* barbershop — feels like entering a different world. The dust and noise fade, replaced by a clean and comforting space she has built with care.
When our team arrived, Emelda was finishing a fresh fade for a client. Another person soon stopped by to ask about a haircut. Within minutes, a small line formed outside her shop, stretching back toward the road. We stepped aside so she could keep working — and earning.
What’s remarkable is that Emelda’s barbershop has been open for just over two months. In that short time, she’s already earned a reputation as a skilled, reliable barber. Her first regular client told me he keeps returning because, in his words, “she does a good job — no issues, always clean work.”
But the path that led her here was not easy.
Emelda, a bisexual refugee from Uganda, was pressured by her family into marrying a man. Throughout the marriage, she survived domestic abuse and physical violence, staying strong for her two children. When she finally left, hoping to find safety with her family, she was instead shunned — with nowhere to go.
She made the painful decision to flee Uganda for Kenya, determined to rebuild her life and create a safer future for her children. Starting over was overwhelming. She searched for community, support, and a sense of direction. That search led her to an LGBTIQ refugee-led organization, which introduced her to ORAM.
Through ORAM, Emelda joined skills training in makeup — but what truly caught her interest was barbering. She re-enrolled in a barbering program at Lintons Beauty Academy and quickly excelled, finishing at the top of her cohort. She gained additional experience through a mentorship and internship with Lintons.
“Barbering gives me pride and purpose,” Emelda told me. “It’s a unique skill — and it reminds me to celebrate my own uniqueness.”
Back in her shop, the scent of cooling menthol filled the room as she brushed off the last bits of hair from her client. Colorful paper decorations — all handmade by Emelda — hung against the metal walls, brightening the space she has transformed into something entirely her own.
With seed funding from ORAM, Emelda was able to rent this container stall and launch her business. Today, she’s not only earning an income — she’s also giving back. Through ORAM’s Training-of-Trainers program, Emelda now mentors two LGBTIQ refugees who hope to become barbers themselves.
Things are looking up, but Emelda is still thinking ahead. She dreams of expanding into a larger shop where she can welcome more clients, train more students, and build a stable, permanent business.
“I do all of this for my children,” she told me through tears.
Stories like Emelda’s remind us of what’s possible when LGBTIQ refugees have access to safety, skills, and opportunity. With support, they don’t only rebuild their lives — they lift others along the way.
Donate today to help LGBTIQ refugees like Emelda pursue their dreams and build brighter futures for themselves and their families.
*Emelda's name has been changed to protect her safety.