Learning & Giving Go Hand-in-Hand

We are nearing the end of the second month of classes at our vocational training center. Our students are given ample opportunity to build their skills in their given field. Our instructors provide 80% of the students' lessons as practical learning. This hands-on training happens in the classroom, out in the field for a contract, or part of community service project. Our goal is to help students gain marketable skills and teach them how to pay-it-forward with their training.

 

The next course we would like to introduce is Cosmetology. This is a nine-month course that offers young women the chance to learn how to work with hair (washing, cutting and styling), as well as other services like manicures, pedicures, etc. The instructor is Josephine Wabloh, who received her cosmetology certificate in Ghana. One of our students and assistant trainers of the Backpacks for Peace project, Roseline Sonday, is a teacher's assistant for this course. She knows how to style hair and wants to learn other aspects of this trade. 

 

Our talented team in Liberia built a stylist station for our students to  practice working in a salon setting. They have hair to practice plaiting (which is a type of braid) that is draped over sting nailed to a wall. They also have one mannequin head, which is used to practice various types of protective styles. As part of their service learning, they provide free haircuts to children in the community.  

 

The following photos show what our students are learning in this course: 

Our students learning how to plait hair.

This is the stylist station built by our team of Kelvin Fomba (UDS co-founder) and Daude (carpenter)

These two students are learning to plait hair on this mannequin head.

Our instructor, Josephine Wabloh (blue & white dress) gives each student attention as they learn this trade.

Josephine shows a student how to plait hair while Roseline (white shirt & jeans) watches other students.

Our students practice giving manicures to females enrolled in other courses.

Our students giving free haircuts to children in the community.

You, our valued Star Supporters, have made this vocational training center possible. Your generous giving inspires our students to pay-it-forward as they learn their desired trade. We Thank You for your continued and heartwarming support of children and youth in Liberia!