Abigail´s inspiring story of overcoming hardship and building a better future as a saloonist.

Abigail*, 18 years old, lives in a village in Longonot, Kenya. She faced a difficult childhood, stepping up as the family´s breadwinner, and ended up being sexually exploited at a tender age. Fortunately, she had contact with the ‘Training and Employment of Children and Youth at Risk of Sexual Exploitation’ project team and she was enrolled for a hairdressing course.

Life at home

Abigail resides in a modest house on their own plot of land in Longonot, constructed from iron sheets for both walls and roofing. Inside, wooden chairs serve as seats in the living room. Adjacent to their main house, the family has erected a small kitchen. Their toilet, constructed from iron sheets, serves as a temporary structure. 

Abigail and her family, have to go to a water point at the Longonot shopping center, a distance of one and a half kilometres, to fetch water. They rely solely on firewood for cooking, as they lack access to electricity or other modern amenities. Unfortunately, their village lacks power connections and space for a playground on their small plot of land.

Tough childhood

Abigail*, 18 years old, lives in a village in Longonot, Kenya. She lives with her mother, her 24-year-old brother, and twin brothers aged 4 years. She has a son who is 3 years old. As the eldest daughter, her childhood was marked by the duty of caring for her family despite the instability.

At just 16, her father left, leaving her mother to fend for their family of five. Despite the emotional and financial strain, Abigail’s mother pressed on. She later got married to a man who, though not financially stable, secured land for them to build a home. With her mother as the primary breadwinner, Abigail’s family relied on her farming and laundry work to supplement their income. Earning a mere Euros per day, her mother struggled to provide for their basic needs. At the tender age of 12, Abigail had to step in and collaborate to support her family. She would join her mother on the farm and wash people´s clothes, shouldering responsibilities far beyond her tender age.

Abigail’s childhood was difficult. She lacked necessities and she had to take up household duties from an early age. She would wake up at 5:00 am to prepare breakfast for her family before heading to school. After classes, she would tirelessly fetch water and firewood, ensuring her family’s well-being despite the challenges they faced.

Burden and struggles

Abigail’s educational journey was marked by hardship. After attending a Primary School in her village, she earned 252 marks (satisfactory)  in her KCPE exams to enroll in a Secondary School in Longonot. However, financial struggles and lack of necessities like school fees and sanitary towels often forced her to miss school. She would go to work, earn enough money to pay for her fees, and continue with her education. This significantly affected her studies.

Witnessing other girls with the essentials that she lacked left Abigail feeling hopeless and sad. Seeking support outside the family, relatives, friends or local agencies, she found older men who promised to help her but exploited her vulnerability instead. Abigail became a survivor of sexual exploitation. Her life took another difficult turn when she became pregnant while in Form 2. The father of her child abandoned her, compelling her to drop out of school to care for her son.

The burden of providing for her family and child became overwhelming, leading Abigail to contemplate ending her life. However, thinking of her little twin brothers and son gave her renewed purpose, motivating her to persevere through the challenges and find reasons to keep living.

“It was hard to imagine that I am the only one working to support my family. People said horrible things about me in the village and I was affected by what they said.” Abigail narrated, with sadness clouding her face. 

Identification and support

In early 2022, Abigail was introduced to K-NOTE by a family friend, a Community Health Promoter, who recognised her need for support. Together, they met with the K-NOTE team at the chief´s office. Abigail completed a registration form detailing her background and desired course. Following an interview to verify her information, she qualified to pursue a hairdressing course.

From March to November 2022, Abigail studied hairdressing at a Hairdressing Salon in Longonot, with the ‘Training and Employment of Children and Youth at Risk of Sexual Exploitation‘ project covering costs for the first 6 months. Her trainer extended her training with a 3-month attachment to gain additional entrepreneurship skills. Abigail successfully passed the NITA exams in November 2022.

In January 2023, Abigail received start-up kits from the project to support her in launching her own salon. 

Transformative journey

Abigail received vocational skills training, entrepreneurship skills training, start-up kits, and counselling support through the ‘Training and Employment of Children and Youth at Risk of Sexual Exploitation’ project. 

From March to November 2022, she was enrolled for a hairdressing course, honing her skills and preparing for entrepreneurship. The project facilitated her transition by covering initial salon rent and city council payments, empowering her to gradually take over expenses as she earned. 

Alongside practical training, Abigail received crucial entrepreneurship skills in savings and income management, preparing her for financial independence. Additionally, she participated in four group counselling sessions which provided her with a vital support network, and with the belief that she was not alone in her struggles. In January 2023, Abigail received a start-up kit, equipped with essentials such as a dryer, sink, towel, and straightening hair. 

¨The project by K-NOTE helped me start my life. Now I am in a salon and the start-up kits have helped me a lot.¨Abigail stated. 

Positive change

Abigail divides her time between her daily tasks at home and work. Her day begins at 5:00 am as she prepares her siblings for school and gathers water and firewood for the family. Afterward, she prepares for work and arrives at the salon around 9:00 am. From Monday to Sunday, she serves three to five customers daily, staying at her workstation until 7:00 pm if there are customers, or closing around 5:00 pm on slower days.

Abigail’s hard work and determination have paid off, as she now earns approximately 3 euros per day and 19 euros per week. With this income, she can cover rent for her salon, buy food, pay for transportation, pay for hospital bills, and meet other basic needs for her family. In support of her salon work, her mother takes care of her son at home. 

With her enduring back pain(the project supported with the treatment referral to a health facility) from her demanding job and carrying heavy water, she is still determined and optimistic about her future. 

Abigail’s progress in her salon business is regularly monitored to ensure her success. Her trainer visits her salon to check on her progress, providing support and guidance. Abigail was taken through counselling sessions to address emotional distress and If she faces any challenges, the K-NOTE project team is readily available to address them and offer assistance.

“I am able to provide for myself and my son and even support my young twin brothers.” She explained.

Promising Future Ahead

“I never imagined I would earn money through my own hard work,” Abigail shared, a smile gracing her face. “Now I’m truly happy. I never expected to come this far considering my background.” Abigail remains grounded, finding joy in simple pleasures like watching TikTok videos and football matches.

Looking ahead, she dreams of expanding her salon business. She envisions setting up branches in Longonot, Naivasha, and Mai Mahiu, eager to share her skills and passion for hairdressing with even more people. ¨I want to help my family and build a better life for them.¨ She concluded.

*Name changed to protect the identity of the project participant