Dubai is a city that needs no introduction. It is known worldwide for its classy lifestyle, stunning architecture and world-class attractions.
Many Kenyans have been attracted to the job opportunities available in the Middle East, leading to a significant influx of migrant workers.
In tandem, some Kenyans have been travelling to the region to challenge the status quo and provide better job opportunities for those who have been forced to take up menial jobs abroad.
One of the Kenyans who has ventured to improve lives whilst eking a living is Everlyne Muthoni Mbaabu. She owns a coffee barista college and several rental apartments in the city of Gold.
Everlyne grew up in Central Kenya, raised in a humble family that mostly engaged in large-scale coffee farming. She was introduced to the world of coffee early on, oblivious that it would one day become her primary source of income.
Despite her best efforts to secure a job in Kenya, Everlyne was unsuccessful, and so she decided to look elsewhere for opportunities. Some of her friends recommended Dubai as a place where she could quickly secure a job, and so she decided to try her luck there.
What better place to find a quick job than the Middle East? In 2015, she packed her bags and relocated along with all her academic papers and certified credentials. Unfortunately, Muthoni did not get a job as her friends told her.
Since she was already in Dubai, Everlyne didn’t want to give up and go back to Kenya. She decided to venture into business and soon realized that the people living in Dubai loved drinking coffee.
With her knowledge and experience in the world of coffee, Muthoni decided to establish her own college to train barista students and capitalize on the coffee-loving culture of Dubai.
In an interview with Citizen TV, Everlyne shared that her school charges Sh. 60,000 per student for a 3-week comprehensive training program.
After graduation, her students have gone on to work in prestigious coffee restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. She has an impressive record of training over 150 baristas.
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“After training my students, I assist them in writing their CVs and connecting them to available job opportunities. This is because most students are afraid of looking for good jobs and most of them end up as housemaids after landing in Dubai,” she said.
Everlyne is also a rental homeowner. Her rental houses are mostly occupied by African migrants who are seeking better job opportunities in Dubai.
She is affordable, charging only between Sh. 15,000 and Sh. 30,000 for her houses. This is relatively cheaper compared to other accommodation facilities in Dubai.
In the future, Muthoni intends to expand her business by opening a branch of her coffee barista school in Kenya and also creating more accommodation facilities in Dubai.