Becoming an artist
against all the odds

Meet Setti

In a classroom of teenage girls, one student stands out – her hair covered with a vibrant crimson headscarf. The intricacy of the drawings in her book also set her apart from her peers.

“I always wanted to do henna, ever since I was really young,” says Setti, one of a dozen or so girls attending a UNICEF-supported henna course near Kassala in eastern Sudan.

The class is part of a programme of life skills classes that help young people from both Sudanese communities and Ethiopian and Eritrean refugee families prepare for work and provide certification for the skills they develop.

Although it started as a hobby, Setti was soon drawing patterns on her own feet, and those of her mother and neighbours for special occasions. She quickly gained a reputation as a skilled artist in her community.

Now 18, she was born and raised in a nearby refugee camp. Her parents came to Sudan to escape conflict in neighbouring Eritrea, though they separated when Setti was just a year old.

Since then it’s been a struggle for her mum to provide for the family – she earns what she can working as a maid in a house in the nearby city, and Setti left school in 7th grade so that she could help. For a long time Setti’s artistic ambition took a back seat.

Setti’s crucial break – with UNICEF’s help

Henna art is a big deal in Sudan, particularly at weddings, where couples pay well to have unique henna patterns drawn on them to mark the occasion.

“I have so many henna ideas for brides. But sometimes they ask me if I’ve received any training, or if I have a certificate. Not having a certificate is holding me back. I’m working for half the amount I’d earn if I had a certificate.”

Although just three weeks long, the life skills class could help Setti get just the break she needs. As the only opportunity in the area to gain certification, the programme was exactly what Setti was looking for to take the next step. “I wanted to develop myself and take it further. The trainer is good, she trains us very well, in a clear way.”

Now, with help from the UNICEF-supported programme, she finally believes she can take her passion for henna to the next level and go professional.

“I really enjoy drawing henna a lot, even before I knew it could earn me money. Now I can help my mum. I really hope in the future that I’ll be able to open my own beauty salon at home, where I can do henna and other things.”