Beirut, June 10, 2019 – In partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon and Kayany
Foundation, L’Oréal Levant organized two graduation ceremonies for the technical
institute students of its “Beauty for a Better Life” training program.
The first ceremony took place in its first academy at the SOS premises on June
10th, and the second at its new academy inaugurated last year in
UNWFPA School for girls in Bar Elias on Friday 14th of June.
During the ceremonies, 60 students received their diplomas after having successfully completed a professional training program in hairdressing. Representatives from L’Oréal Levant, SOS Children’s Villages and Kayany Foundation as well as the graduates’ parents all attended the events.
L’Oréal’s “Beauty for a Better Life” program, deployed in more than 30 countries around the world, is aimed at helping the less fortunate, by giving them free professional training in beauty professions, to promote their self-confidence and reintegration into society.
Lebanon was among the first countries in the world to launch this social education program in 2014 in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon. Its aim is to extend utmost support to SOS youth and other persons who have experienced different kinds of problems in their families or their societies as a whole and enable them to reintegrate socially and professionally. Following the great success of the program in Lebanon, and with the sole purpose of increasing the number of beneficiaries and providing more people with the opportunity to benefit from the tuition-free program, the second academy was opened in Bar Elias in cooperation with the Kayany Foundation in 2018.
The President of SOS Children’s Villages Lebanon, Mr. Naji Gebran praised the pioneering role of partnership between the institutions of the private sector and non-governmental organizations in initiatives that would create new jobs for young people, build their potential and enhance their self-confidence. He congratulated the students on this milestone and wished them a prosperous future in the professions they chose to pursue.
In her speech, Mrs. Nora Jumblatt, Founder and President of the Kayany Foundation said, “Since the launch of Kayany in 2013, we have been working to support Syrian refugees and vulnerable groups in the aims of saving a generation through education. Based on L’Oréal’s belief in supporting disadvantaged groups, this partnership was born and will contribute to supporting young women and helping them in securing appropriate jobs.”
Mr. Philippe Patsalides, Managing Director of L’Oréal Levant, said “This international program is based both on our professional expertise, which has been gathered over a period of more than a century, and the deep conviction shared by everyone at L’Oréal that beauty has a genuine social usefulness.” ” Mr. Patsalides congratulated the graduates and wished them a bright future. He also thanked Matrix, the brand that was instrumental in launching this program in Lebanon and that accompanied the students during the training period until they found suitable jobs.
It is worth noting that with the opening of the second academy, L’Oréal Levant is now providing free training programs for more than 60 people annually from communities facing social and financial difficulties and is helping them find reputable jobs.