Young one aspires for better future in Killarney
"My dreams for the future are to go to university and study and maybe become employed in beauty while I study part-time."
While youth seek employment, other community members are armouring them with skills. One such person is Shaun Unterslak, who is the founder of the Unemployed Need Transformation. Unterslak is an accredited trainer who has been training young people with hair and beauty skills for 17 years. Recently he held a promotion at Rekky’s Signature Hair and Nail Studio in Killarney Mall where one of the beneficiaries of his programme showcased her hair-grooming skills.
The trainee, Miss B showcased her skills by plaiting Johnny Molepo’s hair. Both Miss B and Molepo stay at the City of Johannesburg overnight shelter at 3 Kotze Street.
Eighteen years old and matriculated (2019) Miss B is an orphan who has been residing at the shelter for a number of months. As she worked on Molepo’s hair with her impressive skills Miss B said, “I have a bit of experience in doing hairstyles. I learned most of them within a week. My dreams for the future are to go to university and study and maybe become employed in beauty while I study part-time.”
Unterslak added, however, that the training is very expensive. He said, “In hair and beauty, you can spend R5 000 in five days and you’re only learning one skill. So, because of that I thought let me teach the unemployed how to go into the hair and beauty industry. I’ve worked with the Department of Labour, Johannesburg Child Welfare, ORT SA and other charities.”
Unterslak extended his plea to salon owners that there are trained stylists able to work in salons and his hopes in finding salon owners and management in upper-class areas who are willing to offer employment to the displaced young persons.
“We have placed five in a salon in Braamfontein but the shelter management is concerned about human trafficking and, especially with the 18-year-old, we want to find her a secure environment to work in. Thus, salons situated in the Killarney Mall, in Rosebank and other more exclusive suburbs will offer the beneficiaries a more secure future,” Unterslak said.
Details: Salon owners, modelling agencies and others willing to help may contact Shaun Unterslak on 072 517 8937.
Share your community empowerment projects by email to naidines@caxton.co.za
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