Beautician Training and Entrepreneurship

Miss. Seng Mutha is 21 year old. She finished grade12 and then continued to study in a local private college for a further 2 years in management. Family problems made further financing for education impossible. Fortunately, her Commune Council had just completed a VSTP training plan with the Provincial Training Center, based on skills that could be taught to out-of-school youth to help them improve family income. With her mother and sisters depending on her, she needed to move quickly and she joined the training.

The beautician brings together a variety of skills and the job cannot be learned quickly. The hairdresser of yesterday is now expected to provide hand and foot care and a surprising array of dermatological treatments that combine traditional and more modern over-the-counter salves and lotions. Mutha joined the center based (PTC) training program where she worked hard for 9 months combining the theory of her work with daily practice as a hairdresser, stylist, manicurist/pedicurist, make up artist and skin specialist. She had to drop out for a while to help at home, but MOLVT PTCs have an adult learning orientation and understand the realities of supporting families. So after a short while she was able to come back to the Center, pick up where she left off, and finish the course.

And financing a new shop was not a problem. A neighbor loaned her $1000 for equipment (at 3% monthly interest) and she was off and running. Her shop is the ground level of her Mothers home and is well located for business. Many days she brings in over $25 and will average $12 per day this year (she estimates). In fact sometimes she in so busy she needs help and has brought on an informal apprentice to learn the skills at her side.

Mutha sees a real future for locally made products and has an idea about a locally made shampoo…using herbal ingredients. However the PTC will have to find an expert in this area to work with farmers in converting aloe and other crops to new uses. What is clear is that VSTP opens windows not just for the trainee, but for the community around her.