Finance That Heals
Samson found new purpose to serve micro-businesses in Nigeria through dignifying, trust-based microloans.
Africa
September 10, 2025
In the heart of Guayaquil’s most vulnerable community, where young people face poverty, violence, and gang recruitment, 19-year-old Daniel made a courageous choice to dream differently.
His journey began by happenstance when, one day, Daniel’s father bought a hair clipper for home use. Then, when Daniel’s mother, María, saw promotions for a barber course in the neighborhood, she decided to enroll her son, hopeful the training could keep him following a dangerous path.
He was uninterested at first. Annoyed, even. But during the second session, Daniel realized cutting hair was not just a task—it was an art.
How Daniel Found His Calling
Ignited with passion, Daniel began to assist his teacher in training new students. A defining moment came when the class gave free haircuts to youth battling addictions. That day, Daniel didn’t just use his hands—he used his heart. He felt a deeper calling.
Daniel’s path wasn’t easy, however. He couldn’t afford to graduate from the training program, and later, he was fired from his first job at a barbershop due to lack of experience. But Daniel didn’t give up, offering to work for free while he improved. As his skills and confidence grew, the owner began to pay him. It was the beginning of something greater, something that looked beyond the bottom line.
An Entrepreneur with Purpose
With his parents’ encouragement, Daniel opened his own barbershop. Within the first year and a half, he remodeled his space, built a loyal client base, and matured as a business owner. But it was his mother who really opened his eyes to see the bigger picture.
When María joined a virtual Financial Education training offered by EMFAP, a local partner of Partners Worldwide, Daniel sat beside her during the classes. As he listened, Daniel realized he wasn’t just a young man with a gift for cutting hair—he was an entrepreneur. A business owner with a calling to serve his community.
Thanks to the holistic support from EMFAP—including training, personalized mentoring, and a redemptive vision of entrepreneurship—Daniel grew to understand that his talent was not only a blessing from God, but a tool for transformation.
A Gift to Serve Others
Today, Daniel is an active member of EMFAP’s entrepreneurship network. He continues to gain tools, knowledge, and encouragement to grow his business—and to grow as a leader. But perhaps most importantly, he has become a role model for other youth in his neighborhood, offering them an example of life outside a gang.
“I never thought I’d be a barber,” Daniel said, “but now I see it as a blessing—a talent God gave me. And I want to use it to serve others, to lift others up.”
Daniel is proof that one redemptive entrepreneur can impact many others, and that with faith, support, and determination, a different future is within reach—not just for one person, but for an entire generation.
