A Cut above the Rest! Shanty Town meets the next generation of Hair Stylists
Curious about vocational training options in and around Phnom Penh, the Shanty Town Spirit team made a trip out to the Happy Chandara Vocational Training Center, approximately 12 kms from of the centre of town. As you know, Shanty Town is always exploring educational opportunities for our children, some of whom struggle with mainstream schooling. We try to find a best fit for all our kids whether it be school or vocational training.
Supported by the L’Oreal Foundation and embedded within the Happy Chandara school, the center offers high-level hairdressing training to budding local hair stylists looking to work in the beauty industry or hoping to open their own salon one day. The centre is always looking for internship opportunities for their students and they do their best to support their girls to find jobs.
We toured the campus which was spotless and met a number of students who all seemed happy to be there. We observed the hair training class which was full of activity as the students were practicing on each other with hair colours using L’Oreal products.
Happy Chandara School currently educates 1200 girls who all come from under-privileged backgrounds. An initiative of the French-based Toutes á l’école, the school aims to provide a future of dignity and freedom to these young girls who can grow up to be whomever they would like to be.
The students are supported throughout their schooling life, through to tertiary studies and their first job. Happy Chandara understands the continuity of support these students need to transition throughout their development and reach their potential.
Words by Jessica Sander
You can help these kids
by sponsoring the Shanty Town Spirit program
Click on Make a difference
Or contact
Ermine Norodom: +855 (0) 17 49 27 19 (French and English)
Phirun Prak (Arun): +855 (0) 96 663 6666 (English and Khmer)
Location:
Cambodia
