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Shaping Futures: Why it Still Matters Ten Years On

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Shaping Futures, Schwarzkopf Professional’s charitable initiative, is this year celebrating its 10th anniversary, having helped thousands of disadvantaged youngsters across the world, with UK teams having trained over 300 students since 2009.

Earlier this year (April/May), a team of volunteers from across the UK travelled to the Philippines and the SOS Children’s Village outside Lipa, to teach hairdressing skills to 25 students. Every student was looking to create a future away from poverty, not only for themselves but also their families. For as one student explained,

My inspiration is my father. He always comes home tired and when we have nothing to eat, he doesn’t mind not eating as long as he has food for us.

In a recently made film, the students express why Shaping Futures is so important; helping to change their world and giving them a future. For as Gemma Goliath, National Director of SOS Philippines said,

Shaping Futures is giving children the opportunity to reach for their dreams.

Working in groups, the eight UK hairdressers spent two weeks with the students, developing their knowledge and understanding of cutting, colouring and styling hair, as well as the softer skills of customer care.

2019 UK Volunteers

  • Keely Passmore – Janet Maitland Hair Excellence
  • Rachelle Summerson-Wright – The Junkyard Creative
  • Diana Carson – Rainbow Room International
  • Laura Kerr – Rainbow Room International
  • Rachel Kirk – Brassy2sassyy
  • Amber Small – Coloured Soul
  • Troy Boyd – Anthony John
  • Daishia Holmes – Lewis Moore

Commenting on the experience, Newcastle based hairdresser, Rachelle Summerson-Wright said,

It was such an amazing, wonderful and inspiring experience. The team I went with were outstanding and I know we will be friends for life! The students were an absolute pleasure, so determined and hard working. Watching their skills, confidence and personality’s grow was so emotional, each one of them holds a place in my heart! It was a journey for me I’ll never forget!

Following six weeks of training the students have all graduated with offers of employment from David’s Salon – a hairdressing chain of 250 salons that operates across the Philippines and is run by David Charlton. UK Ambassador for Shaping Futures, Janet Maitland said,

Seeing this video and watching the young people, many of whom have experienced hardships we can hardly comprehend, brings tears to my eyes. I am so proud of how far they’ve all come in such a short amount of time, as well as how brilliant our volunteers are. Each hairdresser fundraises, takes time away from their own families, and makes the 24-hour journey to the other side of the world to help someone else. They are amazing and their efforts pay off every single time. Thank you to everyone involved, you’re all utterly brilliant.

This is the first trip of 2019 for the UK Shaping Futures team. Come July, a second group of volunteers will be heading out to Vietnam to support youngsters there. Fundraising for the initiative continues all year round, and anyone wishing to donate money to help support this project can do so by heading here!

Shaping Futures is a global initiative run by Schwarzkopf Professional and supported by the Fritz Henkel Stiftung. See here for further details.