Category: Africa

Graduation Day! The day I have been waiting 6 months for. The day we will see the first of many classes graduate from Shear Hope Beauty School in Mathare Valley. And of course, Kaylie and I are still feeling sick from our mosquito attack in Joska. We did everything we could to not get us [...]

Joska. The happiest place on earth. Kaylie and I went to Joska Boarding School to visit the children that we have come to love so much! They are so filled with happiness. Everyone who has every visited this school holds it in a very special place in their heart. As Kaylie is a counselor back [...]

Today I was able to sit and talk one on one with the girls. Each of them had hopeful and discouraging stories to share. I was most touched by my time with Carol. Her first question to me was, “How is Logan’s mum?” She remembered when Logan was here in July to photograph and film [...]

Landed at Jomo Kenyatta International at 7am with only 5 hours sleep and no phone. Nevertheless, Kaylie and I are ecstatic to be back to our home away from home. I was so happy to see Peter, Mary’s nephew. He picked me up the last time I came, except then I didn’t know who he was and I [...]

These women, these beautiful women, are more than just my students. I know their children's names. I have been to their homes, sat on their humble furniture in which they pride themselves, and I have been moved by the faith of their families. They are my friends. As much as I always wish that I [...]

Caroline grew up in the slums of Mathare Valley in an area named Kosovo. She had a sponsor in America who provided for her to go to school until she reached high school. She has loved everything about beauty since she was a young girl, always having her hair braided and nails done. She was [...]

It was our first week of school and today was a fun day for our students! We gave them all the tools they’ll be using throughout the course. They were so interested and focused on all the information Teacher Ann and I where sharing with them. First, we gave them their hair cutting shears. The [...]

This afternoon I was able to go with Mary, a Social Worker, and visit the homes of a few of the women who want to be a part of the program. Mary is in charge of recruiting for the salon project. I saw pain, hopelessness, and desperation on their faces. They all need something, anything [...]

We have had a lot of things accomplished for the beauty school in a very short amount of time. I am so impressed by the dedication and determination of the people leading this project. The construction on the room where the beauty school will be held is going full force. There are at least 10 [...]