Schwarzkopf professional’s shaping futures celebrates its 10th anniversary

This April a team of professional UK hairdressers travelled to the Philippines and the SOS Children’s Village to teach hairdressing skills to 25 students. Shaping Futures, a global charitable initiative run by Schwarzkopf Professional, has already trained over 300 students since 2009. The organisation is marking its 10th anniversary with a trip to help students create a future away from poverty, not only for themselves but also for their families. One of the students expressed why Shaping Futures is important for changing her world: “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.” Whereas the national director of SOS Philippines, Gemma Goliath, expressed her happiness, sharing: “Shaping Futures is giving children the opportunity to reach for their dreams.” The professional training courses are in a period of two weeks. The students work in groups developing their knowledge and understanding of cutting, colouring and styling hair, as well as the softer skills of customer care. After intense training sessions, the students 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. Commenting on the experience, Rachelle Summerson-Wright, Newcastle-based hairdresser, said: “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!”

In fact, the 2019 UK Team was composed of:

• Keely Passmore from Janet Maitland Hair Excellence
• Rachelle Summerson-Wright from The Junkyard Creative
• Diana Carson from Rainbow Room International
• Laura Kerr from Rainbow Room International
• Rachel Kirk from Brassy2sassy
• Amber Small from Coloured Soul
• Troy Boyd from Anthony John
• Daishia Holmes from Lewis Moore

Janet Maitland, UK Ambassador for Shaping Futures supported by the Fritz Henkel Stiftung, expresses his gratitude towards the volunteers: “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 charity team. The second group of volunteers will be travelling to Vietnam in July to train students there. Fundraising for the initiative continues all year round, and anyone wishing to donate money to help support this project can do so by visiting their website.