A future in hair with L'Oreal Malaysia, YWCA

Helping disadvantaged young women to be independent and have a better future.Beauty For A Better Life is a programme organised and launched by L'Oreal Malaysia to provide disadvantaged young Malaysian women with training and skills in cosmetology (Hairdressing and Makeup). The programme is organised In the believe that there is power in education.

The programme is in partnership with the National Council of Women’s Organisation (NCWO) through YWCA Vocational Training Opportunity Centre and has been endorsed by the Ministry of Education. The organisers aim to educate young Malaysian women who have lost the opportunity to access decent education or have no education, to get a highly recognised certification in the field of cosmetology provided by qualified and professional trainers in the field.

According to estimates, the hairdressing industry in Malaysia is worth approximately RM10 billion and it enjoys a dynamic environment with an increasing number of employment opportunities. A professional cosmetologist is regarded as a valuable asset in Malaysia.

The programme empowers women to build their own future. “At L’Oréal, we believe in the power of beauty and education. Beauty for a Better Life programme was founded in 2009 with two fundamentals --  that education is the freedom to choose and build one’s own future, and beauty professionals can have a positive impact through motivation and self-confidence, fostering creativity and motivating individuals to take on new challenges. L’Oréal Malaysia is committed to providing this platform for our beneficiaries to excel and find a their place in society,” explains Malek Bekdache, Managing Director, L’Oréal Malaysia.

“This is just the beginning. The Beauty for a Better Life programme aims to train 300 beneficiaries in the next 5 years in hairdressing and makeup. Our vision is to change lives of these young girls by offering the best quality beauty professionalization course. We don’t stop at providing these girls with an education, we want to help them gain employment and develop a career in this dynamic industry,” says Jean Loh, Corporate Communications Director, L’Oréal Malaysia.

The six months long programme provides 600 hours of professional training and certification.

The course has two intakes annually: January and June and classes are conducted at YWCA KL's Vocational Training Opportunity Centre (VTOC) - 12, Jalan Hang Jebat  50150 Kuala Lumpur. The 700 square feet training facility has been renovated and upgraded with new equipment with the sponsorship from L’Oreal Malaysia.

“L’Oréal Malaysia’s sponsorship has certainly added value to the existing hair dressing programme. They have renovated and furnished a new hair dressing studio and have provided additional training to enhance our curriculum that would ultimately benefit all our trainees and ensure they achieve a level of professionalism needed to secure good jobs when they complete their course,” adds June Yeoh, Chairperson Y.W.C.A VTOC.

Registration is exclusive for girls 17 years and older providing that their circumstances can be proved and are able to read and write. All registration enquiries go through YWCA.

Recruitment for the next intake (January 2017) starts in November and December of 2016. YWCA, with L'Oreal Malaysia's help, scouts the entire nation for young disadvantaged women offering the opportunity to provide free education, flight tickets and accommodation for young women to attend this course over 6 months.

Ladies from Kuala Lumpur and its satellite cities who cannot afford education can seek enrolment at YMCA's VTOC in Kuala Lumpur and may attend day classes sponsored by L'Oreal Malaysia. YWCA also provides young women with other courses: Sewing and tailoring, and culinary arts and baking.

Beauty For A Better Life programme by The L'Oreal Foundation and is not limited to Malaysia. The Foundation extends their helpful hands to young disadvantaged women  in more than 20 countries from Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, Africa and Europe.

Special thanks for Ms Jean Loh from L’Oreal and Ms Patricia from YWCA for their help in answering our enquiries.

For more information regarding the programme, please contact YWCA: [email protected]