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Model Prisoners
Alice Kamunge
KenyaGALLERYCONVERSATION
My name is Mrs. Alice Kamunge. I am married to Major William Kamunge and we are blessed with four children, three girls and one boy.

I am the proprietor of Vera Beauty College in Nairobi, Kenya, and a franchisee of Miss Earth Kenya, Miss Tourism Kenya the pioneer of Miss Prisons Kenya.

I was born and raised from a humble background, in a small village on the slopes of Mount Kenya. I come from a family of eight children; my parents were peasants, strong, hardworking and strict disciplinarians. Their strong will power has nurtured my individuality even today.

Driven by the desire to empower myself, I decided to take a course in hairdressing, beauty therapy and business management. With greater experience at handling my own business, I started Vera Beauty College in 1998.

When I started the college, I wanted to accommodate students who never made it to University – those that come from poor backgrounds. The college offers them quality education, vocational skills, and creates job opportunities.

A project I am particularly proud of is the Miss Langata Beauty Pageant, which we organized with Kenya’s largest prison in 2005.

In 2002 when National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) came to power, it initiated prison reforms. One among them was an open door policy where prison gates were opened and everybody was allowed in the prison to offer whatever they had. Not many people were willing to visit prisons and assist inmates. For me it was an opportunity I had been yearning for. I thought that those people out there needed to be given a reason to smile. The only way to do that was by doing what I did best – modeling. That’s what I’ve introduced to prisons. The event turned out to be very popular; it was covered by the BBC! The success of the event inspired me to go even further and start a rehabilitation program for the pageant winners. Twelve of the former inmates have now graduated from Vera Beauty College and three have received jobs here. I strongly believe that after getting out of prison, they become productive members of the society.

We currently have thirty two ex-convicts on our college waiting list. Since we have limited resources, the college cannot support all of them at once. Our sincere hope is to be able to one day build a centre where we can be able to house them as they train and get absorbed back to the society.

In all my endeavors, my family has been my strength. My husband has been very supportive both financially and intellectually. My children have also been wonderfully understanding and accommodating. At times when they need me in the house, I am out working with prisoners or with some charity or environmental agency. I spend the better part of the day at my work place at their expense yet they do not complain. They are my source of inspiration. Their prayers have seen me excel.

In this profession like any other, there are a lot of challenges one succumbs to. I have always set dreams but failed to realize them and that becomes a challenge I have learnt to live with. I still hope that my efforts can empower these youth in some way.
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COMMENTS ABOUT THIS STORY
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Chara
Alice,
What a beautiful thing you are doing for these women you. Thank you for your caring.
Chara
Alice,
What a beautiful thing you are doing for these women you. Thank you for your caring.
Chara
Alice,
What a beautiful thing you are doing for these women you. Thank you for your caring.
Alex Kanyi (Kenya)
Hi Alice,

Hongera kwa kazi nzuri ambayo wewe unayoifanya. I was profoundly moved by the work that you do especially for they so-called "university non-material" and more so by the prison reforms projects.

I would like to have an in-depth communication through emailing as I'm involved in a reform program myself with the Nairobi-West short-term mens prisons.

Contact me email: clikanyi@yah
Alex Kanyi (Kenya)
Hi Alice,

Hongera kwa kazi nzuri ambayo wewe unayoifanya. I was profoundly moved by the work that you do especially for they so-called "university non-material" and more so by the prison reforms projects.

I would like to have an in-depth communication through emailing as I'm involved in a reform program myself with the Nairobi-West short-term mens prisons.

Contact me email: clikanyi@yah
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