Main Feature: Making it in life as a pedicurist, Rutagengwa’s story

I will be a lawyer, perhaps a doctor sounds better, why not a pilot? In every kid’s world, there lies a dream on what they will be in life. We have all been there and our childhood dreams were always about being significant people in society. In fact, if at all as a child you never had a mega dream for the future, parents would end up having doubts on your future performance in school. That means dreams always circulated around education. That explains why most parents sacrificed their all to ensure the best for their children’s future. As the saying goes, ‘no education, no success in the society’. Considering the fact that even fingers are not equal, there is when people fail to acquire education no matter how much they toil. Does that mean the uneducated will not live descent lives? And does it mean their dreams will forever be shuttered? Like all kids, Tatian Rutagengwa toiled to pursue his education though it wasn’t a success. Born to a family of 8 children, it was impossible for him to continue with secondary school education. He decided to try his luck as a pedicurist and has had no regrets since. As he sits at his work place in Kabeza, custormers flood the place insisting on only Rutagengwa or his young brother John to attend to them. “Right from Kigali city centre and regardless of the numerous saloons, people come looking for Tatian. I wonder how they get to know him,” wonders Angelique Muhoza, one of the neighbours to the salon. “I have been in this job for the last 8 years,” says Rutagengwa as he continues receiving his customers. Located a few kilometres from Remera Giporoso, Abeza Beauty saloon receives customers on a daily basis in the name of pedicure and manicure. The many customers make the already small saloon appear even smaller. They don’t seem to mind about the congestion; apparently all they want is to see their nails done. According to Rutagengwa, his days are always long since he receives most of his customers during the afternoon hours when they leave work. “I usually go home past midnight,” he says. The saloon offers massage for the feet and fingers. They as well shape and trim nails. Not to mention the artificial nails that are getting stylish for the girls as each day goes by. To take pedicure and manicure to another level, he uses different new brands of nail vanish. This involves mixing different types of vanish to come up with a pretty colour depending on which occasion it is and what the client wants. “Vanish has changed its reputation from breaking and staining nails to cleaning them and hardening them,”Rutagengwa explains. He sounds so professional prompting me to ask him whether he graduated in this area. The pedicurist learnt from a certain saloon in Kampala Uganda. He woke up to go to that saloon each day to chase his dream of being the best pedicurist in Rwanda. “Though I was still young, I had the urge of doing that since that’s how best I thought I could survive without education,” he explains. He hastens to add that even for the educated, creativity is essential if they are to succeed. Traditionally when one graduates from college, they will take years and years looking for some one who can hire them in their specific areas of study. Sure, we have all had that time on the street when we have to walk up and down in search of jobs. White collar jobs have been a priority for even those with low qualifications. Little do people think of being self employed. For Rutagengwa, being a pedicurist has gotten him somewhere. On an unlucky day, the 25 year old says that he receives five to six customers. Manicure goes for Rwf 1500. It goes for the same to get a pedicure. That means that the least he earns is Rwf 10,000 a day. On a good day, Rutagengwa gets 15-20 custormers. He approximately goes home with between Rwf 22500 to 30,000. When we go through additions day by day, the fellow earns more than Rwf 300,000 a month. Meanwhile, a well paid medium working class in Rwanda earns between Rwf 250,000 and 300,000. For instance, many news reporters earn Rwf 250,000 yet people working with other Communication companies earn in that range as well. Not to mention are the primary and secondary school teachers who usually don’t exceed a pay of Rwf 300,000. So do we credit this to luck for Rutagengwa or sheer hard work? Earning daily and being self employed have made Rutagengwa appreciate his job so much that he has introduced his younger brother John to it. He describes himself as a brilliant young man and indeed he is. When it comes to jobs, careers and businesses, their failure arises when the people involved don’t give all they can. Rutagengwa and his young brother seem to know this very clearly. “We purchase all we can to satisfy our customer’s needs,” says Rutagengwa. He has all kinds of files (for nails), nail cutters and nail vanish which he says he purchases from Uganda. The two youths as well get orders for pedicure and manicure from customers who prefer not to come to the saloon. This is considered special and the price doubles. The pedicure job has blessed Rutagenwa in many ways. In fact, the youth says he doesn’t lack yet he has fat savings and investments. Though not comfortable with saying the exact price on his bank account, the pedicurist says it’s satisfactory. This disguised job has made him pay for his siblings’ school fees and cater for his day to day needs. He prefers not to talk much about his side businesses but he confirms that they have come out of this business, a reason he gives for why he can never quit. Many youth out there would rather go jobless than be barbers, pedicurists or waitresses in hotels. This is the biggest taunt that Rutagengwa has faced in the long period he has done this work. He acknowledges that on several occasions he has felt uncomfortable introducing himself as a pedicurist. “I don’t mind being self employed, but painting nails I can’t,” says Alex Gihozo. He is just like the many youths who want every thing on a silver platter with no pains. Proud of his job, Rutagengwa looks forward to adding to its development in Rwanda. If given a chance, all he wants is to be a pedicure trainer as well. Rutagengwa would like to show other youths a short cut to getting rich, which he says is investing in this business. Given the chance to choose a career, he would gladly opt for being a beautician especially a pedicurist he says with a smile. “I am contented and if at all I am to change, it will still be in this field,”Rutagengwa comments. He revealed that in the near future, he will saved enough to import pedicure related gadgets from Dubai and else where. Ends