Canada Ensures Salon Successes

by Friends-International · November 21, 2024

A cornerstone of Building Futures

During its 30 Years of existence, training for employment has been a cornerstone of the ‘Building Futures’ work at Friends-International.

Our vocational training has always developed with market needs in mind. It is important that if you have trained to have a specific skill you can gain decent employment as a result of that.

In Cambodia, for example, the population of 17.6 million is young. The average age is 26*. Young people invariably want to follow the latest trends, whether that be in social technology or fashion and culture. So, that also means that they want to feel, and look, good.

The beauty and personal care market in the country is experiencing rapid growth driven by increasing disposable income and a growing middle class. A year on year growth rate of at least 3% has been predicted over the next five years**.

Salon Styles

Our Salon Vocational Training is one of the most popular of our courses. It offers training in beauty. This includes skills in cosmetics/makeup, nails and hairdressing. As part of their training, students also have the opportunity to provide beauty services directly to the communities where our social work teams operate. They also participate in additional training, including life-skills and soft skills, which will help them after their graduation. Prior to graduation they also gain experience within real business environments. These are the Salons which are located in our F3 creative centers in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

Services for their communites from students

Student Successes

Of course, what is most important about projects like these are the positive impacts they create, providing sustainable futures through employment for formerly marginalized youth, or those who lacked opportunity.

In 2023 alone, 36 students graduated from the beauty course. One of those went into internship, one started their own business, and 34 were successfully placed into employment.

We are extremely grateful to the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (Cambodia) for their very generous support of our Salon Training during 2024/25 – ‘Together, building futures’!