Alumni Spotlight: How Amach found confidence and employment through RefuSHE's Beauty program

When Amach Kuol arrived in Kenya in 2016 at just 12 years old, she was joining a family already split across borders—her mother and siblings in Kakuma Refugee Camp, her father still in South Sudan. In 2021, she moved to Nairobi in search of better opportunities. 

Amach first joined RefuSHE through the Fashion and Design program. That experience sparked something in her. Having worked previously in a salon doing hairdressing without formal training, she often felt overlooked. “People didn’t really believe in my skills,” she recalls. But when she joined RefuSHE’s beauty program, everything changed. 

Through the training, Amach learned nails, makeup, and salon professionalism. She now understands how profitable the beauty industry is and sees how her skills—from hair to nails—can earn her a sustainable income. “Most ladies like to look good,” she says with a confident smile. “And now I can make that happen.” 

During her one-month attachment at a salon, she started off doing the basics—cuticle removal, nail prep, and builder gel. Over time, she was trusted with full gel applications on clients. Her day starts early, with cleaning, organizing tools, and preparing for appointments. 

Looking ahead, Amach dreams of opening her own beauty business. She wants to earn, save, and eventually support herself and her family—breaking the cycle of dependence. More than that, she wants to give back: “I want to share my knowledge with the world and with other girls.”  

She ends with heartfelt gratitude: “Thank you to L’Oréal. As a refugee, I wouldn’t have had this chance to study without your support. I’m so grateful.”