There are now Education for Life training projects around the world in which young people receive qualified training and thus a future – young people from the slums and crisis areas of the world, threatened by hunger, violence, crime, drugs or war. Many of the young people we teach the hairdressing trade to in our training schools subsequently find their way into a new life – often thanks to the active support of our colleagues on site, who enable them to start a salon. But what they are given goes further: with every skill they learn and every word of encouragement they receive, their self-confidence grows – and with it the freedom to pursue other paths later on. Education for Life not only provides a trade, but also a foundation on which the future can be built.
“Give a hungry man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a hungry man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime” (Lao Tzu). True to this guiding principle of Education for Life, we concentrate on sustainable aid – education as the basis for a self-determined life. To this end, we also use and support the facilities of our friends’ foundations or social institutions in the countries.
DENPASAR CITY (BALI/INDONESIA)
In Bali, the Rob Peetoom Hair School offers disadvantaged young people real prospects in life. Founded by Rob Peetoom and supported by Education for Life, the school trains young people aged 16 to 24 in hairdressing – professionally, practically and with heart.
The one-year training program teaches all skills from cutting to colouring and styling. The curriculum was developed by the renowned Rob Peetoom Academy in Europe and is accompanied on site by experienced instructors in real salons.
The special feature: The training is completely free of charge. In addition to lessons, students receive accommodation, meals and monthly financial support. In this way, young talents are not only given a profession, but also self-confidence and a path to a self-determined life – supported by education, passion and hope.
CASA DO MENOR (BRAZIL)
In 2004, “Education for Life” introduced its pilot project in Brazil, specifically in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. The “Casa Do Menor” is located in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro. Every year, around 200 young people are trained there in the basics of hairdressing. The aim is to offer young people career prospects so that they can earn their own living – free from crime and drugs. “Casa Do Menor” is a great opportunity – in recent years, around 80 percent of trainees have found a job afterwards.
JUIZ DE FORA (BRAZIL)
The Education for Life school project is located 185 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro in the interior of the country. The Presbyterian Church of Juiz de Fora has provided us with the premises free of charge in which Education for Life “Juiz de Fora” could be established. In addition, Pastor Henrique supports us and thus our Education for Life ambassador for Brazil with the energy and water supply, as well as the cleaning of the rooms! In addition, the local pastor of Juiz de Fora helps us to recruit pupils from the community for “Education for Life”. But it is not only local children who can be given a future through training in hairdressing.
Instituto ABIHPEC (BRAZIL)
INSTITUTO ABIHPEC was founded on the initiative of the Brazilian Association of the Personal Care, Perfumery and Cosmetics Industry (ABIHPEC), with the aim of transferring all its social responsibility projects to an independent and non-profit organization.
INTERCOIFFURE BRASIL, represents INTERCOIFFURE MONDIAL in Brazil. A global organization and association of the best and most experienced beauty professionals in the world, preserving and transmitting their knowledge and moral values, promoting all areas of the beauty industry and offering a future to young people through education. INTERCOIFFURE developed the “Education For Life” project, a globally funded program for the “free” education of beauty professionals among young people living in “social risk”, with the aim of creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment.
Both INSTITUTO ABIHPEC and INTERCOIFFURE BRASIL have no interest in generating profits or receiving payments or remuneration for the organization and development of said objectives/projects. They correspond exclusively to voluntary and free initiatives. This applies both to the parties mentioned here and to their volunteers or employees.
BUCHAREST (ROMANIA)
New start in Romania: Training for disadvantaged young people in Bucharest
We are currently working on the opening of a new school in Bucharest that will provide young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with training in hairdressing. The premises are kindly provided by Cristina Ciuca and the project is being realized with the support of the Intercoiffure friends from Romania under the leadership of President Lucian Bratu.
The training program comprises a total of 720 hours: 240 hours of theory and 480 hours of practical exercises. The program is designed to last six months, with two courses per year. Classes are held five days a week, with a total of 30 hours per week.
To further strengthen the practical part of the training, we suggest that the young graduates gain at least two additional months of practical experience in hairdressing salons after the six months.
Our intercoiffure team in Romania currently consists of 17 members who are actively involved in teaching. Voluntary work by our members already covers 144 hours. In addition, five members from Bucharest will contribute an additional 60 hours, so that we can already cover a total of at least 204 hours.
CAPE TOWN (SOUTH AFRICA)
Our training class is a facility run by Intercoiffure South Africa and industry partners under the umbrella of the English charity “Christel House”, where almost 1000 students in 12 different age groups are currently being looked after and taught.
The young people are taught three times a week for 2-3 hours in our Education for Life project and many Intercoiffure friends also support this project with their own training assignments. We will continue to expand the training in order to obtain a state-recognized diploma. Our Intercoiffure initiators on site: Ezra, Anel and Rolf are committed to the organization and training. They also help tirelessly with fundraising.
MONTEVIDEO (URUGUAY)
The “Escuela de Peluquería ALAS” is aimed at young people over the age of 17 and aims to provide students with the tools they need to enter the world of work. The students come from the poorest areas of Uruguay. Scholarships have been set up for further and specialized training. The program consists of two main workshops. The first studio trains specialists in blow-drying, hair washing and manicures. The second workshop teaches job-seeking skills, provides information on employees’ rights and possible developments in working life and trains candidates for future job interviews.
The “Estudio Paolino” was opened in Montevideo, Uruguay, on 28.11.2013. Under the leadership of the President of Intercoiffure Uruguay, “Education for Life Uruguay” was founded, together with a new educational project. The project could be realized thanks to the commitment of our friends in Uruguay, the financial start-up aid and additional donations. Up to ten training places can currently be made available. Employed teachers and friends of Intercoiffure teach the young people on an ongoing basis.
KIEV / ODESSA (UKRAINE)
In Kiev, the capital and largest city in Ukraine, a broad-based Education for Life training project was opened in September 2015 at the Specialized School of Technology and Design (Kiev, 22, Yuri Gagarin Blvd.). A little later, in November 2015, the second Education for Life school project was opened 500 km south of the Black Sea in Odessa, also under the management of Intercoiffure Ukraine. Here, too, we were integrated into the technical and design college.
In the meantime, it had become clear that it was more efficient to train the disadvantaged young people directly and in small groups (in 9 Education for Life salon projects) in Kiev and Odessa – with members of Intercoiffure Ukraine. Between 15 and 20 young people, who no longer have parents and would have no chance on the domestic labor market without training, receive continuous help towards a better and self-determined life!
This concept will be pursued as far as it is justifiable and taking into account the current danger.
NEW DELHI (INDIA)
The young people/students who are taught at Dr. Kochhar’s academy come from economically poor backgrounds. Some of them are children of single parents, others are school dropouts who need financial support for vocational training. In this academy, the owner Dr. Blossom Kochhar and the Education for Life Ambassador of India, Miss Samantha Kochhar, work free of charge for the young people/students. Our ambassadors Samantha and Blossom also pay for the tools and equipment for the students who cannot afford them.
We are delighted that through this wonderful collaboration, the Education for Life school project in New Delhi is well on its way! Currently, young people affected by acid attacks and cancer survivors are being taught there. This is in addition to the regular lessons of the other pupils for the Education for Life project. In India, the training is not limited to hairdressing, but since 2023 has also included training in beauty care and make-up to give young people a better chance of earning a living.
PHNOM PENH (CAMBODIA)
This collaboration with Ermine Norodom, Princess of Cambodia, was initiated by Intercoiffure Switzerland. Princess Ermine Norodom is the founder and director of Shanty Town Spirit and is very pleased about the partnership with Education for Life. Our support enables the training of a group of 6 disadvantaged teenagers and young adults at the Arya Vong Kim Hair Professional Beauty Academy in Phnom Penh. Here, too, we are giving hope and a future for a self-determined life through training in the hairdressing and beauty industry. The participants are carefully selected by renowned associations and non-governmental organizations according to need and opportunity.
Princess Ermine Norodom, the founder of Shanty Town Spirit, personally assures that the funds from Education for Life are used expressly for the benefit of the students and their education. The vision of Shanty Town Spirit is: One mind, one heart, one community. Supporting the self-reliance and self-sufficiency of families living in impoverished communities to improve their quality of life. Shanty Town Spirit sincerely thanks Education for Life and Intercoiffure Switzerland for their generosity and charity, which is passed on from the heart.
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