Thirty years ago with just a dream, some doubts but with a big dose of conviction, Ruth Tiner Kibirige founded Tiner International School of Beauty.
Kibirige says she had a diffiuclt childhood. Her father died when she was young and since she had been born outside the wedlock, relatives did not want to take her in.
She persevered through school, did odd jobs here and there and by God’s grace managed to go to the United Kingdom where she did short courses in beauty and fashion.
“I came back aiming at setting up a big boutique and I was ready, but I later heard an inner voice telling me to set up a training institute to mentor the less privileged and academically weak,” she says.
She went to work and started recruiting the less privileged and giving them hands-on skills, especially in tailoring weaving and hairdressing.
Kibirige says when started out as a young woman, there were negative perceptions about the field she had chosen. This, however, started chaging the moment people saw her make progress.
“I remember recruiting a student who had failed in all disciplines in school. She had F9s in all subjects but by the end of the training she had excelled. She is now one of the consultants in this field,” says Kibirige.
All that now is history. Today, Kibirige is widely known as Madam Tiner because of her beauty school which has gained prominence in Uganda and abroad.
The school, located in Rubaga division, is now known for transforming society, especially the girl child. It has changed the mindset of many who thought courses like hairdressing, weaving and cosmetology were for failures in life.
The school has trained more than 100,000 students many of whom have gone on to start their own successfull businesses.
“Our students are now everywhere and on top of that they are trainers which means they are our ambassadors,” she says.
She credits God for this incredible rollercoaster journey.
“God has been on my side every time but persistence has also been key in this journey,”she says.
