Youth undergo barber course in Alex

For the next 11 weeks, 12 youngsters from Alexandra will undergo a basic barber’s course by grooming company Wahl Clipper Corporation.

The Phakamisa Training Project, held every Monday at the Ethiopian Catholic Church in 10th Avenue, is part of the company’s mandate to uplift previously disadvantaged communities.

It is working together with non-profit organisation Blessed Is The Hand That Gives which provides skills development to the youth, and provides school uniforms to needy children and lunch every afternoon.

Wahl Clipper crew member Ceanon du Preez said the project, which is still in its early days, is being held in Alex and Tembisa.

“There is a lot of opportunities for young people in the industry, that is why we are here to help unemployed people to uplift their skills,” said Du Preez. “They will also receive certificates at the end of the course, which will help them get jobs because it will show that they have the skills.”

He added that the trainees would also receive starter kits that would help them start their careers.

Du Preez said teaching women barber skills was not in any way different from teaching men and believes they will do well in Alex.

“The nice thing about the industry is that it is not really male-dominated. Recently, we have seen a lot of women becoming barbers.”

Co-founder of the organisation and junior pastor at the church, Philemon Matome, said he was excited about the training offered to the youth.

“As you know, jobs are scarce so this is another way to equip our young brothers and sisters with skills so that they can get an income and support their families.”

Trainee barber Innocent Ngwenya said the course was interesting and learnt a lot.

“I used to think that cutting hair was simple, but there are a lot of things that go with it,” Ngwenya said.

He agreed with Du Preez that there were a lot of opportunities in the barber industry.

“People always want to cut their hair and are always trying out new barbers, so I think that there are enough opportunities out there.”

Ngwenya plans to use the skills he learns on the course to teach other young people the basics of being a barber.

Read: Rising star plans to offer skills training to youth of Alex