Wards of the State benefit from JN Barber and Beauty Seminar
FIVE WARDS from the Homestead Place of Safety in Spanish Town, St Catherine, received insight into different careers in the beauty sector and benefited from financial empowerment training, when they recently attended the JN Small Business Loans (JNSBL) Barber and Beauty Seminar at the JN Conference Centre.
The wards, who were between the ages of 13 and 16 years old, were informed about sundry career options as part of an initiative by the Child Protection and Family Services Agency, formerly the Child Development Agency, to introduce wards in their care to various professions.
“We brought them here to gain an understanding about various careers and the opportunities for funding for those who want to venture into entrepreneurship when they leave our care,” explained Venice Campbell, health and social care assistant supervisor, Homestead Place of Safety.
‘We brought them here to gain an understanding about various careers and the opportunities for funding for those who want to venture into entrepreneurship when they leave our care.’
MANAGING OPERATIONS
“For those who want to become entrepreneurs, we did not simply want them to say, ‘I am going to open a business.’We wanted them to understand how to manage their operations, the different areas they can explore, and what they needed to do to enable them to receive funding,” she said.
Campbell added that they were introduced to the seminar through the JN Foundation, which informed them about the benefits that members in the beauty industry received when they entered the JNSBL Barber and Beauty Battle.
“We normally do counselling sessions with wards to determine their interests, and based on their response, we selected the ones who are present today to join us. We also know that when they return to the facility, they will inform the other girls about what they learned,”she said.
The young ladies also had the opportunity to observe barbers, hairdressers, nail technicians and make-up artists working together to formulate a business plan and then pitching for funding.
OcKino Petrie, marketing manager, JNSBL, and chairman of the JNSBL Barber and Beauty Planning Committee, stated that the young women were invited as part of the competition’s thrust to expose as many persons as possible to the different careers, the skills needed, and the opportunities that exist in the beauty sector.