WELLA-UNICEF Making Waves: Empowering change through education, all around the world

WELLA-UNICEF MAKING WAVES is a long-term partnership between Wella and UNICEF in collaboration with hair stylists and their clients from around the world. It aims to transform the lives of vulnerable young people through hairdressing training, mentoring and life skills education. Since 2010 the partnership has empowered more than 31,000 young people in Brazil and Romania to fulfil their rights and realize their potential.

MAKING WAVES' championing of education and vocational training is especially relevant in Viet Nam where one third of the population, 26 million, is under the age of 18. While Viet Nam has made rapid economic progress in the past two decades, solid results in protecting children and young people from harm have not kept pace with this progress. It is estimated that around 3.3 million children and adolescents are in difficult circumstances for example it has; 1.75 million child labourers, more than 5,400 children with HIV and an estimated 15,000 to 16,000 juveniles in conflict with the law. .

In the first year of the programme, WELLA-UNICEF MAKING WAVES aims to train 100 young people on a unique hairdressing course. Most of the adolescents selected for the programme are from vulnerable groups e.g. working adolescents, orphans, children from very poor families, and those who are victims and at risk of abuse, neglect, violence or in contact with the law. The students were introduced by local authorities, social protection centres and child care shelters across Ho Chi Minh City, especially coming from UNICEF supported and Wella funded project sites. In addition to funding hairdressing training and vocational training in hospitality, Wella will also fund capacity building projects for local NGO's in Ho Chi Minh City.

UNICEF Viet Nam has been working closely with Ho Chi Minh City to support the fulfilment of the rights of all children. Through the support of the "WELLA-UNICEF MAKING WAVES" partnership we are working to strengthen local child protection systems at subnational level, in particular Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap and Lao Cai province, and use the results to influence national change, said Youssouf Abdel-Jelil, UNICEF Representive in Viet Nam.

WELLA-UNICEF Making Waves' new home in Viet Nam is part of one of the main training facilities in the Humanitarian (Nhân Đạo) Vocational Training School where every year, 400 students benefit from vocational hairdressing and beauty care training. Students also have the opportunity to learn essential life and business skills and to take part in community activities that will help to increase their confidence and social integration.

• WELLA-UNICEF Making Waves expands to South-East Asia with the launch of theprogram in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

• The Viet Nam program builds on successful Making Waves schemes in Romania and Brazil where over 31,000 young people have been empowered through education since 2010

For more information about UNICEF please visit www.unicef.org, or contact UNICEF UK's press office on media@unicef.org.uk / +44 207 375 6096