Job training for young people in Sri Lanka

Over the past 3 months the trainees to the Hair and Beauty Training have been eagerly attending and picking up new skills. The course led by the CG Hairdressing Academy started in the Asha Centre in Athidiya, as we were aware that many of the 14 trainees were not confident about travelling into Colombo. After a few weeks they were encouraged to attend the CG Academy one day a week. The Academy has much better facilities and are able to offer a wider curriculum. Within a short time the had grown in confidence and they were happy to attend the academy every day.

One of the exciting things for the young women was the filming of the hair and beauty trainees in the Academy for a television show which was aired in Sri Lanka on 'Derana TV'.

The trainees have now completed the course and there was an event to celebrate their success. Katherine, Asha trust local worker says “It was a lovely occasion at the centre in Athidiya with a welcome speech by Sister Concepta followed by the certificate giving and of course a piece or two of celebratory cake! Two of the ‘graduates’ also made an impromptu thank you speech and what they said really highlights how successful the training has been. They talked of how the training had changed their lives for the better and that the support and love that was given to them by the trainers made their confidence increase and realise their self-worth. They also talked of how they can now see a bright future and realise that there is another way to how they have been living up to now”.

With the help of Cheryl., the Director of the CG Hairdressing, 7 have already got jobs in good hair salons in Colombo, all have a good starting salary and excellent prospects. The remaining women are working from home with their new skills. All have already had paying customers! It will be interesting to speak to the students in the next few months and see how their plans have developed. Cheryl is also keen to keep in contact with the trainees and support them in the future if they wish.

Katherine says “I think it is no exaggeration when I say that I can see the change in these young people myself. They are brimming with confidence, have plans for the future and realistic aspirations. So on behalf of all the women who graduated, thank you to all those who supported this project – you have made a real difference to these women's lives!”

There is already a group of young women interested in taking part in the next Hair and Beauty course, which we hope will start in October.