The State of Grenada consists of three habitable islands – Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Carriacou and Petite Martinique rely on each other for services since they are closer and share a similar culture.
18-year old Zora Lendore is a 2018 Secondary School graduate from Harvey Vale, Carriacou and one of ten trainees from the sister isle. She lives with her extended family with her mom being head of the household and reliant on her support.
Zora previously worked part-time as a housekeeper and cashier, while using her limited cosmetologist skills on friends and family. With no professional training, ‘I would often times practice on my family and relatives – they were very impressed with the results; it was a natural talent’, Zora jovially reminisces.
NATURAL ABILITY MEETS OPPORTUNITY
Witnessing her daughter’s love and desire to pursue cosmetology, Zora’s mother was very instrumental in seeking skills training possibilities for her. This led to Zora registering for assistance at the local government office and eventually being selected for the New Life Organisation (NEWLO) Cosmetology Programme where she learned about SkYE-UKaid training support. Zora’s household responsibilities meant she had never been able to afford to train and she recalls her elation at the possibility of finally having the opportunity to pursue her passion.
BEYOND TRAINING…
Zora is now trained, assessed and qualified to receive a CVQ Level 2 – Cosmetology certificate. Her training covered areas of hair, nails and skin. She will be the first person from Carriacou to be skilled in all areas as a certified Cosmetologist because of SkYE programme. A beaming Zora states, “This training provides me with a very lucrative opportunity, as I would be able to provide service in all three areas as well as provide employment for myself and others”.
Furthermore, she credits the life skill training for building her confidence and ability to engage persons daily, even strangers, when she previously considered herself to be reserved and an introvert. She sees this as fundamental to her personal development and customer service. In the short term and after internship, Zora explains, “I hope to strengthen my skills by working along with established cosmetology businesses in Carriacou and Grenada. However, in the long term, I hope to own a beauty salon’.
Zora is appreciative of SkYE and UKaid for providing this opportunity to pursue her passion which contributes to the expansion of entrepreneurs in her small island of 13 square miles and 9,595 persons. ‘I am an ambassador for the SkYE and the NEWLO Cosmetology Programme!”, she declares.
FACTS
The Skills for Youth Employment (SkYE) is a four-year, UKaid funded programme to provide certified skills training for 6,000 disadvantaged young people, including those challenged by disability, in four Eastern Caribbean countries: Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia and St Vincent & the Grenadines. The Programme will develop a more productive and inclusive workforce in sectors with good economic growth potential.
SkYE is supporting national training authorities and training providers to make systemic improvements to the development, delivery and quality assurance of technical, vocational education and training (TVET) in the four focus islands through targeted capacity building.
