Bukeni Thomas: The courage to begin

For years, Bukeni Thomas believed his future had already been decided.

After fleeing the Democratic Republic of Congo and settling in Kakuma in 2014, he found every day centered on survival. Like many refugees, he took whatever work he could find, earning a living as a motorcycle taxi driver. It paid the bills, but it wasn't the life he had imagined. With limited opportunities and even fewer resources, the dream of owning a business felt unrealistic.

Thomas at DOTKAY Beauty Salon and Cosmetics, Burundi Market, Kakuma.

Looking back, Bukeni realizes the biggest obstacle was fear.

"I stayed in my comfort zone because I was afraid," he says. "I didn't know that taking one small step could completely change my future."

That first step came in 2025 when he enrolled in Resilience Action International's Hairdressing and Beauty training program. What began as an opportunity to learn a trade quickly became something much bigger. Every lesson strengthened not only his technical skills but also his confidence, reminding him that his past did not have to determine his future.

After graduating, Bukeni wasn't ready to stop learning. Determined to build something of his own, he enrolled in RAI's Entrepreneurship program, where he discovered how to transform a skill into a business.

"The business training opened my eyes," he says. "I learned that the biggest barrier wasn't the lack of money, it was the fear of using what little I had."

Today, Bukeni works independently as a hairstylist, specializing in dreadlocks and nail care. Each client represents more than income. Each client is a reminder that courage, paired with the right support, can rewrite someone's story. Starting with only a small amount of capital, he continues to grow his business one customer at a time.

Bukeni is serving a client at the salon.

The journey hasn't been easy. Limited equipment and insufficient capital still make it difficult to expand. Yet every challenge reinforces his determination rather than diminishing it.

"The biggest thing I need now is more capital," he explains. "With better equipment and more investment, I know my business can grow."

For Bukeni, the greatest transformation wasn't learning how to braid hair or run a business. It was that he could create opportunities rather than wait for them.

"The training removed the veil from my eyes," he says. "It showed me new possibilities."

Today, when young people ask him how he got started, his answer is simple: don't let fear make your decisions.

Bukeni's journey is proof that potential exists everywhere, even in places where hope often feels out of reach. Sometimes, all it takes is the right opportunity, practical skills, and someone willing to believe in a person's ability to succeed.

Every graduate who walks out of RAI's training centre carries more than a certificate. They leave with the confidence to earn, to innovate, and to build a future on their own terms. Bukeni is one of many whose lives have been reshaped by opportunity. 

And as his business continues to grow, so does the ripple effect, reaching families, customers, and a community that benefits every time one more young person chooses possibility over fear.