Nail bar boss helps Kenya pupils polish their skills
A NAIL artist to the stars has been teaching her craft to underprivileged children in Kenya so they can gain marketable skills — and wants other London business owners to follow suit.
Imarni Ashman, 26, launched her salon at Boxpark Shoreditch three years ago and has since created intricate designs for A-listers including Jennifer Hudson, singers Emeli Sandé, Halsey and Anne-Marie. American rapperA$AP Rocky even requested a pedicure.
Ms Ashman travelled to a Nairobi slum with Hackney-based friend and jewellery designer Hannah Warner, 33. The pair had fundraised online and were able to donate a portable nail bar and nail kits to schools.
They spent a week teaching about 20 pupils in KAG school, Kibera, and Valley View school, Mathare, with arts charity Anno’s Africa, and instructed the charity’s art teachers, who will provide weekly sessions for pupils. Ms Ashman, who in 2016 was featured in ES Magazine as one of the top up-and-coming London creative talents, said: “Nail art is something anyone can do — it is just about practice. Every Saturday they will spend a whole day practising with teachers.
“The kids sometimes don’t have money to eat at all, so if we can get them trained up they can offer a service in the surrounding area. They can really earn money.
“We have hit a real target market because no one seems to be doing nail art in Kenya or nail bars in the same way as here.” The pair plan to return this Christmas and run a pop-up nail salon, with all proceeds going to the children. “It would be great if Londoners who have a craft could do the same,” she said. “Anything the kids can sell, like hair skills, even music lessons so they can perform and earn money through busking, would be useful.”
Bea Gilbert established Anno’s Africa 11 years ago in memory of her son, poet Anno Birkin, who died aged 20 in 2001. Its arts programmes now run in slums in Kenya and Malawi. She said: “These children are incredibly bright but cannot afford to go to schools and do exams that would give them further qualifications, so they don’t have any other chance at a career.
“That’s why projects like this are so brilliant. Hannah and Imarni’s project was special as they self-fundraised and everyone enjoyed it so much.”
⬤ For more information, go to annosafrica.org.uk