Hairdresser training in developing countries

Hairdresser training in developing countries gives stylists the chance to bring to life the ancient proverb, "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime." These wise words couldn't be more apt for training in developing countries, depicting the power of education and importance of inspiring independence as a truly charitable initiative. Hairdressers and manufacturers alike are increasingly giving their time, expertise and passion to transform the lives of those in need, with practical skills at the forefront of their activity. By providing the knowledge and understanding necessary to master a craft, these projects pave the way for a lifetime of self-sufficiency.

SHAIR Trust

Launched in 2003, the SHAIR Trust supports hair academies for the underprivileged in Africa, dedicated to getting deprived young adults out of the slums and into salons. Randolph Gray, international hair educator for the Colomer Group, was instrumental in creating the first academy in Nairobi, Kenya, and spends nearly four months each year teaching and motivating students. The Revlon Professional East Africa Academy offers completely free education in state-of-the-art surroundings with quality equipment donated by hairdressing companies. Over the course of a year students are trained to the equivalent of NVQ Level 2 with an externally assessed, internationally recognised qualification. Following nine months of practical salon experience, graduates also have the opportunity to progress to the equivalent of NVQ Level 3, learning as they work. More than 250 hairdressers have already graduated from the scheme, with more than 80% still working in the industry. SHAIR now has a mandate to expand the concept across Africa, with a goal of opening nine further academies over the next five years. Also using education as a model, Shaping Futures is a social initiative which has seen Schwarzkopf Professional pair with SOS Children's Villages, the world's largest charity for orphans and abandoned children with community homes for 78,000 children in 125 developing countries. Click here for more information

Shaping Futures

The Shaping Futures project was created to teach groups of young adults in these villages basic hairdressing skills, with volunteer hairdressers spending up to four weeks at a time providing free training and education. Tiffany McLean, operations manager for the Schwarzkopf London Academy, was part of the first UK team to visit the SOS Children's Village in Cochin, Southern India, to experience first hand the impact the new skill can make on the lives of young people. Tiffany explains: "It was a humbling and inspirational trip but the thing that struck me most was that despite their intolerable personal suffering, how committed these children were to learning a new skill. We have to condense months of learning into just a few weeks so the days are long and intense, but their attention never wavered and they were overjoyed with their new skills. Many showed real promise and expressed an ambition to run their own salon." The Shaping Futures Initiative will continue to connect experienced professionals with SOS Children's Villages around the globe with fundraising events and awareness building activities planned throughout 2011. Click here for more information

Wella UNICEF Making Waves

Also giving young people in developing countries a head start, Wella Professionals recently announced a partnership with UNICEF, the world's leading organisation for children's rights. The resulting enterprise, Wella UNICEF Making Waves, has been developed to provide young people in disadvantaged areas with a brighter, more positive future by nurturing their creative skills with education, lifeskills and hairdressing training. Based around a long-term mentoring programme, Wella hairdressers from across the globe will teach in fully equipped centres, providing young people with the skills required to become fully-qualified hairdressers themselves as well as increasing their self-esteem and raising their aspirations. "We all know that lifeskills and vocational training are critically important to ensure all young people, wherever they may live, can fulfil their potential and shape their own futures," says Daniel Minney, managing director UK and Ireland, P&G Salon Professional. "The hairdressing industry is an exceptionally generous one, and we are very excited that together we can share our expertise and passion to offer young adults specific hairdressing training." Click here for more information