Working with heart in the Philippines

Carol Hayward (centre) is off to teach in The Philippines with the full support of her team Shiella Thomas (left), Devi Caldwell, Chanel Holly and Aleisha Ward.

Aspiring hairdressers in the Philippines will soon have some tuition from a Whanganui expert.

Carol Hayward, owner of Chonel hair salon is the only Kiwi hairdresser among 60 Australasians selected to participate in Schwarzkopf Professional's Shaping Futures initiative.

She leaves for the Philippines on Saturday where she will be teaching hairdressing skills to disadvantaged young adults to enable them to pursue a career in the beauty industry.

"I will be working from around 8am to 4pm each day to train young people in basic skills," she said.

With an image of two hands forming a heart shape around a globe as its logo, Shaping Futures is a partnership between Schwarzkopf, non-profit organisation SOS Children's Villages, local non-profit organisations and volunteer hairdressers.

The initiative started in 2008 when Japanese Schwarzkopf Professional employees travelled to Cambodia to teach basic hairdressing skills to disadvantaged young adults to enable them to pursue a career in the beauty industry.

The programme has now reached 25 countries, influencing the lives of more than 1,200 young adults.

Miss Hayward said she is delighted to be included in this trip to The Philippines and said she is grateful for the support of her team.

"I also wish to acknowledge the support of Te Puni Kokori and Te Manu Atatu Maori Business Network.

"I belong to the network and they have supported me with gifts of equipment and books that I will be able to distribute in the Philippines."

She said the heart shape is a very apt one as it symbolises the good feeling she has in sharing her skills with young people who do not have access to training in her profession.

Schwarzkopf Professional's international creative director Simon Ellis said teaching disadvantaged young adults in developing countries how to cut hair, will give them in life and the prospect of a lasting future.

During the course of their training, students regularly meet with local salon owners, enabling a great number of them to pursue careers in a near-by salon.