Nobert

My name is Nobert. I'm a first-year student at the University of Nairobi and a mobile nail technician. I work in the city during the school year and back home during the holidays.

But that wasn't always my story.

I grew up in Meru and went to high school in Nakuru. After I finished high school, I came back home and… I was stuck. I wasn't earning an income. I didn't have a skill I could use to support myself. I spent my days helping my parents, volunteering in the community, and teaching Sunday school at church. It was meaningful, but deep down I kept asking myself: What next? How do I build a future with my own hands?

Compassion International has been part of my life since I was a child, supporting my education and walking with me through different stages of growth. But the turning point came when I heard about an opportunity through Peter: a scholarship program connected to Lintons Academy (through Lintons Foundation and Compassion). I was asked to help rally other young people to join.

That's when I met a wall I didn't expect. Convincing young people, especially men, was hard. Many believed beauty work is “for women,” and that men shouldn't do nails or makeup. I understood their mindset because I grew up around the same thinking.

But I also knew opportunities like this don't come often. I pushed through the resistance and convinced a small group of us to try: ladies and a few gentlemen, and we took the chance.

I will never forget the first time I entered Lintons Academy. Walking through those glass doors felt like stepping into a different world. The place was clean, professional, and excellent. So excellent that I remember feeling self-conscious about the dust on my clothes and shoes. It wasn't shame, it was awakening. I realized: there are levels to life, and excellence is a choice you can learn.

At the start of the program, I wasn't fully sure what I would become. But as the training went on, two things happened.

First, my trainers shaped my confidence. Miss Nikki believed in me. She taught in a way that made me feel seen, capable, and challenged. Then Joe Derek proved that a man can thrive professionally in this space. Seeing someone like me doing this work with excellence changed my mindset completely.

Second, I discovered what fits me. The moment I held the tools, the files, and the buffers, I knew nail technology was my lane. It wasn't just about beauty; it was the focus, the detail, the problem-solving. When I work on nails, I enter a state of flow, almost meditative. I'm fully present. I care about quality. I care about growth, and nail technology keeps stretching me. Every day, there's a new milestone. Every mistake teaches me something.

I love learning, and I realized this career rewards learning. I also loved the science behind it: nail health, structure, and even how products work, like acrylics, which used concepts that reminded me of chemistry. That's why today I'm drawn to builder gel, acrylics, and nail design, and especially the side that many clients never get: consultation and guidance. So many people are wearing products without understanding what's happening to their nails. I want to be a technician who doesn't just “do nails,” but protects clients and helps them avoid making things worse.

After the course, I went for an internship placement at a spa (at Adam's Arcade). That's where I learned professionalism beyond the skill itself: teamwork, time management, organization, and how to protect a client's dignity by correcting mistakes without embarrassing anyone. My mentor there, Thomas, taught me a huge principle I still carry: be honest. If you can't do something, ask for help. Don't guess on a client.

When I graduated, I began offering mobile services. I started where most people start, with my friends, sometimes for free, because I genuinely loved practicing. Those friends told other friends. Church referrals started. Even my parents became part of my marketing by telling people, “My son is a nail technician.”

But I also faced practical barriers. I didn't always have enough products and tools. At times, I had to borrow from another technician and pay them a commission later. That's why the starter kit support mattered. It helped fill the gap and enabled consistent work.

My first paid client was a stay-at-home mom who came through a referral. Pricing was hard because I was trained in a high-end environment, but back home, people would compare your work to “300 shillings” expectations. I learned to negotiate, build trust, and play the long game. Sometimes I even walked long distances to save transport because I wanted to build a reputation more than I wanted quick profit.

Today, I have around 15–20 active clients. On average, I bring in about KES 3,500 per month from freelancing, and after expenses, I take home about KES 1,500–2,000. That money matters. It helps me cover basics like transport and food so my parents can focus on my younger siblings. For the first time, I'm not just being helped. I'm helping lift the burden.

And I'm thinking bigger.

At university, I'm studying project management, and I'm starting to see that you can apply project thinking to any career, even beauty. I want to build something structured, not just hustle. I want to grow into an entrepreneur, create a physical space, and eventually train others. I want young people in my community, especially those with potential but limited exposure, to see what I've seen: nothing is impossible.

I also know my next level will require technology. My phone is limited, and my marketing is mostly WhatsApp, referrals, and in-person work. But I want to learn digital marketing, content creation, and advanced tech skills to help beauty professionals work smarter.

Because for me, this isn't just a skill. It's a new identity. I now see myself as a young man building self-sufficiency, excellence, and purpose. One client, one lesson, and one opportunity at a time.