- Qendrim Rasiti, a 29-year-old UK-born barber based in Brisbane, provides free haircuts, clothing, and meals to people experiencing homelessness through his community initiative, Rasiti Roots, using grooming as a tool to restore dignity and human connection.
- Jay King, Managing Director of Aus J Hot Water Solutions, donated a converted Toyota HiAce RV to Qendrim, enabling him to travel further along Australia's East Coast to reach more people in need.
- The donated vehicle includes sleeping accommodation, hot water facilities, and storage space for equipment and supplies, replacing Qendrim's previous approach of travelling on foot with his kit in a backpack.
- Qendrim's viral videos on TikTok and Instagram have reached millions of viewers, and have led to multiple families successfully reuniting with long-lost loved ones who had been living rough.
- Qendrim's long-term vision includes pursuing the work full-time, launching a clothing brand with a portion of proceeds going to charitable outreach, and establishing a foundation to help people find employment, reconnect with family, and rebuild their lives.
A young man with a mission to restore dignity to people experiencing homelessness and hardship through free hairdressing and practical help has been given a major boost by the donation of a Toyota HiAce RV.
Qendrim Rasiti has touched the hearts of millions of television and online viewers with his voluntary work on the streets of Brisbane through his Rasiti Roots community initiative.
The 29-year-old UK-born barber provides free haircuts, clothing, and meals to people experiencing homelessness and hard times, operating under the motto "Where every cut tells a story,” using grooming as a tool to restore dignity and spread human warmth on the streets.
RV donor Jay King says, “I was absolutely amazed when I saw Qendrim on TV (A Current Affair) walking the streets of Brisbane and respectfully approaching people who looked like they might be doing it tough, offering them a haircut and a chance to feel good about themselves.”
“You could see the transformations taking place in people of all ages and all walks of life – often, he helped them see themselves and their self-worth in a new way through a simple act of human empathy,” said Jay, Managing Director of Aus J Hot Water Solutions, who decided then and there to donate the HiAce camper he had converted for his own use, so Qendrim could travel further afield to deliver his kindest cuts of all.
He flew Qendrim down to Sydney to hand over the sturdy vehicle, which incorporates sleeping accommodation, hot water for hygiene and grooming, and space for Qendrim to load his equipment and supplies, ready for forays along the East Coast of Australia. This means he can now spread his goodwill and good work further afield than he could do on foot, carrying his kit in a backpack.
Qendrim started the initiative after helping a young man in a park who seemed down on his luck. Seeing the transformative power of a fresh cut, he now views his work not just as a haircut, but as a way to offer love and a reminder that everyone deserves a fresh start with renewed self-belief.
Since then, his viral videos on the Rasiti Roots TikTok and Rasiti Roots Instagram accounts have reached millions of viewers. Because of this online visibility, multiple families have recognised and successfully reunited with long-lost loved ones who were living rough.
"I believe everyone has a story worth listening to,” says Qendrim. “Right now, I’m taking to the road part-time to help anyone in need, focusing heavily on the homeless community – people who deserve dignity, care, and connection more than anyone. My ultimate goal is to take this coastal journey full-time once qualified (as a hairdresser), meeting people from all walks of life, but always truly focusing more on homelessness, sharing their stories, and launching a clothing brand where a portion of every sale goes straight back into charitable outreach."
Community Expansion
Featured nationally on programs like A Current Affair and 7NEWS, Qendrim funds his street operations through public support and a GoFundMe campaign, allowing him to hand out food, drinks, and essential clothing alongside his haircuts. Qendrim uses his barbering skills to build human connections and offer support to people experiencing homelessness and hardship, approaching everyone he meets with dedication and respect.
He often records the transformations and heartwarming comments of the people he serves, but says consent to do this is essential. Many of the haircuts are entirely off-camera, at the individual’s request. When someone does agree to be filmed, he considers sharing their stories a way of challenging assumptions around homelessness and encouraging people to look beyond current circumstances. “Look them in the eye, smile and listen to them with an open heart. Sometimes, the simple act of acknowledging people is where change begins, as they tell their story.”
The videos he publishes online can also engender wonderful change. “Once a daughter reached out to me after seeing her father on one of the videos. She had no idea if he was dead, alive, in prison, or where he was in the world. Being able to bring them back together and reconnect that family was one of the best feelings I have had on this journey of service,” says Qendrim, who has stepped away from the security of a conventional job to pursue his community work full-time. His Islamic faith, prayer, and time offline with family have become important ways of grounding himself and reinforcing his resolve. His vision is to pursue the work full-time, with his modest personal needs supported in part by people contributing through GoFundMe. His long-term vision is to create a foundation capable of helping people to find employment, reconnect with family, and begin rebuilding their lives.
“Another dream, until recently, was to take my mission on the road, supporting people down the East Coast of Australia who are affected by homelessness,” he says. “Now, thanks to the generosity of Jay, that journey can begin.”
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Aus J (www.ausj.com.au) offers a range of innovative electric water heaters with models for domestic, commercial and recreational applications, including a 240V 10-litre Aqueous water heater designed to provide homes with near-instant hot water and reduce the wastage by having the heater located under the sink.
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Jack Mallen-Cooper
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Mallen-Cooper Whyte
(02) 9901 4306
[email protected]
www.mallencooperwhyte.com.au
