Save Sunshine Shelter Kids-Beauty From Their Hands

The program aims to provide market-ready skills to young mothers who constitute almost 75% of out of school youth in Uganda. It provides training in a variety of skills including hairdressing,braiding among others. The hairdressing course has been the most popular course, which has drawn many youth/women to the Centre. This trend prompts the question – why is hairdressing such a sought-after skill?

Ugandan women, in general, have a complex relationship with their hair. This topic has been explored in depth in various documentaries, including “Good Hair” by comedian Chris Rock, which examined the billion-dollar industry in the US that caters for women hair in particular. Uganda is no different, the business of weaves, wigs, and braids is enormous, and it employs a considerable number of young women, especially those without an education. There are entire streets and areas designated for hair in the capital of Kampala. You will find shops selling hair waves and extensions, and people willing to plait your hair for anything between 20,000 (5 USD) to 200,000 (55 USD) Uganda shillings depending on the style and what is trending.

This has been offered to youth in several trades including hairdressing, tailoring and masonry. As the hair industry is growing in Uganda, more women will be able to make lucrative money out of their hair business including the single mothers that we train at the Centre. This means that the single mothers that graduate from the Centre will have a qualification and a skill set that is recognized by our project.

Sewing in a weave to braided hair.

This is one of the most important element in anybody’s life, However in many communities families are unable to afford medical care especially the women who are often left to be the bread winners and heads of the families and this not only hardens the situation as they often have to pick and forego certain basic needs in order to provide for the other. Many children have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS which is literally devastating much of Uganda and creating millions of orphans not only in Uganda but the whole World. There are many other diseases/illnesses affecting families such as Malaria, Typhoid, Kwashiorkor, sickle cells, Diarrhoea, Red eyes among others.

During the last couple of months, the students have been learning different hairdressing techniques with hair and beauty expert. On Test day, the students worked in groups to complete a variety of hairstyles, including traditional braids and twists, weaves, chemical treatment and more. The students implemented the complete hairdressing procedure – from taking out the old hairstyle, to washing the hair, drying it, combing it, braiding it and for some models, sewing in a weave.

WHY?

We believe all girls have a right to live up to their full potential as individuals. Because of poverty and patriarchic beliefs, parents and society don’t believe in investing in girls’ education and livelihoods. The vocational training remains the solution to the so many uneducated children who were unable to attain and form of education and unable to read nor write. We give them a chance to life by allowing them learn from skills through the hair dressing project. The Skills & Vocational training is to socially and economically empower adolescent girls and young women, giving them the power to seek employment when the time is right and the voice to make comprehensive decisions. These skills are the key factor to avoid girls ending up as victims of child marriage & teenage pregnancy. We empower them to be able to earn some sort of living to afford menstrual hygiene kits etc.

WHAT WE AIM AT?

We aim to see young mothers and women have a chance in life so as to achieve their dreams in the hands skills on through the different programs available in the hair dressing. We want to see young mothers/women feel safe, gain independance after the program course so as to continue building their lives from where they are after attaining the hair dressing course.

Artistry

Artistry and creativity can allow a hairdresser to advise their clients on new and contemporary style that may suit them. Artistic capabilities may help students understand lines and shapes, allowing them to create flattering hairstyles for their clients. Because hairdressers work with clients who may have a variety of face shapes, hair textures and lengths, they can benefit from having creative and imaginative skills. Coloring techniques and styling methods may also require hairdressers to remain creative and willing to learn about changing styles and emergent trends.

Recognizing this trend, We decided to focus this program on training women in hairdressing, especially the kind that did not require salon equipment. In addition to reducing start-up costs, this also challenges the single mothers and encourages them to use their creativity. The versatility of hair in Uganda provides massive opportunities for women in this industry. The cost of setting up is relatively low, and services can even be provided at home. Since the clients always purchase the extensions separately, single mothers can almost start the business without any capital and expect huge returns as long they have clients and have mastered the art of different hair styles.

More of the beauty learning centre

We set up a learning centre for hair dressing and equipped it with all the first requirements needed to get the girls into the practical world of hair dressing.

Many girls continue to benefit and acquire skills and be prevented from joining dangerous groups that are associated with unethical behaviours that have often resulted into dangerous occurances.

Active listening

In order to help their future clients achieve their desires looks, hairdressers may benefit from active listening, and paying close attention to the descriptions and gestures their clients provide. Salon guests may also interact with hairdressers on a personal level, and share updates about their personal lives. This means that being a hairdresser may require one to listen and due to this, we encourage them to learn communication skills to listen attentively and participate in conversations with their future clients. This can help create a relationship or friendship between the hairdresser and their customers, which may positively impact a hairdresser's reputation and their client retention rates.

We have seen many girls go from knowing nothing at their arrival to leaving as better hair dressers,so far 12 girls and 4 women have gone through our learning centre and we are hoping to add more materials so as to host a bigger number of young mothers/women with time.

HOW IT WORKS?

Through several life skills and vocational training and Adult education, we guide adolescent girls and young women towards a journey where they can comprehensively exploit their abilities and voices. We assess the girl: often she comes from a poor family, and she has no prospect for the future. If possible, we try to bring her back to school for young mothers who are willing to join school. We encourage it and for those that are unable to join school we encourage skills training. In any case, she receives the skills and vocational training, participating in one or more training, according to her preferences. Hair dressing encompasses a number of things and it is through the many styles that the youth mothers get to pick on from and learn. It requires the teaching of communication skills to the women so as to allow them learn how to work with their clients.

Hair Dressing