Beauty care and barbering skills training for persons with disabilities
DPI, Guyana, Friday, March 22, 2019
The Open Doors Vocational Centre has introduced a new programme to its curriculum for persons with disabilities – Beauty Care and Barbering for those between 16 and 45.
This will be part of the centre’s two-year curriculum and commences on April 29 with 11 students (one male included). The practical programme will teach hair washing and styling, manicure and pedicure. For those into barbering, sessions will be facilitated at Kevin’s Reflections Beauty Salon.
The programme was introduced with a simple ceremony and the commissioning of a beauty care centre furnished to execute the teaching sessions effectively. Minister of Public Health, Volda Lawrence and Minister within the Ministry, Dr. Karen Cummings, along with Permanent Secretary, Colette Adams and Director of Disability and Rehabilitation Services, Dr. Ariane Mangar were also in attendance.
Dr. Mangar reflected that since 2016, programmes offered at the Open Doors Vocational Centre were under review. This was done to deliver what is suited to persons with disability, what the students are interested in and the skills that are in demand. As such, this beauty care and barbering programme was developed.
She noted that adding this programme will go far beyond just ensuring that these persons acquire the skills. “When they are done, this is something they can do, put into practice and once that works out for them, they can go out and earn, enhancing their quality of life and that’s the mission. When they are finished, hopefully, we can get them attached to various salons where they can do attachments for periods and at the salon, they can show off their skills, hopefully, some salons take them on and if not, they can probably start their little business.”
The ministry has now gone beyond just addressing basic public health needs, according to Minister Lawrence.
“The director spoke of us shifting the goalpost or tearing down the goal post of us being able to give to these young men and women a package which will help them for the rest of their lives, to provide them with a skill and not only that but to say to all of Guyana ‘Hello, hello… we can perhaps give you an injection, dress your wound, perhaps give you a medication for whatever ailment you have but we can also address the social determinants of health.”
She reflected that there was once a time when persons with disabilities were marginalised and treated differently. She added that the ministry is now doing more than just rehabilitating persons, but to ensure they play a role in society’s development.
Now that skills training is equally available for persons with disabilities, they now have equal opportunities to jobs, small business grants and access to markets with products and services. The centre also offers Information Technology, Garment Craft to name a few along with remedial classes of those enrolled.
Delicia Haynes.
Images: Jules Gibson.