Barber Keolan Hewitt knows that it’s tough being born in Janu-worry. So, for his birthday, he decided he wanted to bet on a different kind of wish list. Earlier this month as the new school year loomed, he decided to offer free haircuts to children in his neighbourhood with a wish to bring about change one fresh cut at a time. The result was joy for hundreds:
Eastern Cape, South Africa (19 January 2024) — As parents and children get back into the swing of school and many celebrate their first day as done and dusted, one barber made sure that over a hundred children got to attend school looking their very best at no cost to their parents.
Keolan Hewitt’s free haircut initiative was his birthday gift to the children of South Africa. Without bows or wrapping paper, his gift made 150 children smile, gave hundreds of parents relief, and inspired even more members of his community with his kindness.
“We live in the kasi, so there’s a lot of money shortages and people can’t always afford to pay for things such as haircuts as it is an unnecessary expense to some, but living in 2024, it takes a mental toll on most underprivileged children,” Keolan tells Good Things Guy.
“My birthday was on 7 January, and I wanted to celebrate it a bit different. People always expect gifts, and birthday wishes, but I was born in a month where money wasn’t always around.
“I always thought that birthday gifts come in boxes and packages, but I didn’t know that it comes with being alive, being grateful, and being aware of one’s blessings. I looked around my room and saw that I have a roof over my head, not a lot of food to eat but there are those with less. Clothes on my body. I suddenly became more gateful and then had this idea—that instead of expecting things from people, let me do something nice for someone.
I immediately thought of cutting hair, but I had to write down the idea to make it stick. I quickly grabbed my phone and didn’t think twice to post of Facebook and invite 150 kids from my neighbourhood to come to my house a day after my birthday and get a free haircut. I was very determined and sure the job could be done, but what I didn’t expect was my post going viral. This was genuinely just a selfless act, and a lesson as well.”
Keolan reached out for assistance from other local barbers—Liam, Duwaine, Robyn and Kylo— who didn’t hesitate to help and shared Keolan’s excitement.
“It was astonishing how many kids really needed a haircut,” he adds.
Soon, Trinity Baptist Church was brimming with excitement from both the kids, families and barbers.
“I told my mom, ‘Ma, I think God might be using me to do something here, I can feel it,” Keolan recalls.
For the barber, preparing children to lead the future proudly and confidently can start with something as empowering as a haircut. Because when you look your best, you feel your best.
But, there was also another gift present that day; something Keolan refers to as a lesson that didn’t just impact him, but thousands o people.
“The lesson was ‘give, without expecting’.”
Overall, 800 children’s hair was cut. 400 girls got their hair done in plats thanks to Theoline Rulf and other helpful hands. A huge difference was made. And all it took was one selfless decision.
Keolan has since founded Guardians of The Youth, where selfless acts are growing and any day is an opportunity to give someone a gift of kindness that money can’t buy.
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