The beauty of empowerment
The programme is aimed at equipping passionate students with the skills to establish their own businesses.
As the world came to a grinding halt due to the outbreak of Covid-19, Devashnie Cattigan’s career as a personal assistant fell to pieces.
At the age of 28, the young mother became unemployed in a world facing great uncertainty.
However, a chance opportunity has now empowered her to bravely step into the beauty industry and unlock the possibilities of creating her own destiny.
Devashnie, along with 19 other local women, have since the beginning of April benefitted from a six-week beauty training programme presented by the Bracha Outreach and Empowerment Programme.
Funded by American businesswoman Bracha Schoonovera and headed up by social entrepreneur Shaun Unterslak of an NPO called The Unemployed Needs Transformation, the project recruited local unskilled or unemployed men and women to benefit from the project.
“We targeted individuals within some of the city’s struggling communities, teaching them skills within the beauty industry, which will empower them to launch their businesses or to make them employable by local salons,” said Unterslak.
“The 20 beneficiaries have undergone training in braiding and bonding hair treatments complemented by being taught how to apply individual eyelashes as well as acrylic and gel nails.
“With these skills, the world has become their oyster and opportunities for financial growth are endless.”
According to Devashnie, the training programme has not only ignited a passion for the beauty industry but through the mentorship programme and interactions with clients she has grown as an individual.
“When I became unemployed, it felt like my world was crashing down. I am a mother and a hard worker yet it felt like every door was shut,” she said.
“Since signing up with Barcha, which means blessings in Hebrew, I now have skills which I can use to open my own business or to use part-time to supplement my income, should I be successful in finding permanent employment.
“Using my new-found skills to pamper clients has brought me so much joy, nourishing my soul.”
To build confidence in performing treatments on clients, the students recently participated in a wellness day at the Methodist Aged Outreach Project in Wattville.
“The beneficiaries have come a long way since joining the programme,” said Shaun.
“They are comfortable in their capabilities and through this interaction have brought joy to some of the community’s aged.”
Shaun said that once the programme has come to an end, the organisation will continue to offer support to the students by enlisting their skills in corporate wellness days.
“We hope that local salons will consider offering employment to the students, who have proven themselves to be resilient and hard-working,” he said.
“All they needed was someone to give them the opportunity to learn.”
Special pricing is available to groups of teachers, nurses and policewomen, while the students are available to offer treatments for corporate wellness days.
For more information about the programme, bookings or employment opportunities, contact Shaun on 072 517 8937.
ALSO READ: Budget cuts, NPOs remain hopeful in unsettling climate
ALSO READ: Kids Haven uplifts young man
