In Vinnytsia, participants of the “Reboot” programme helped provide services for vulnerable people at a social hairdressing salon run by the Ukrainian Red Cross

There are many vulnerable groups today, including internally displaced persons, military veterans, single parents, children, families of military personnel, people with disabilities, older adults, and low-income or large families. Each group has specific needs, including those related to employment.

As part of the “Reboot: Expanding Employment Opportunities programme”, implemented by the Ukrainian Red Cross with support from the Spanish Red Cross, internally displaced persons in the Vinnytsia region completed the Universal Hairdresser course. After finishing their training, the participants attended a support meeting to discuss key issues, such as fear of securing employment due to lack of practical experience.

To overcome this barrier, the idea of creating a space to develop the skills of graduates from the Universal Hairdresser course was proposed. The Vinnytsia city branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross launched a social hairdressing salon, one of several such centres being opened across Ukraine. The participants have already visited geriatric nursing homes in Vinnytsia, as well as the villages of Plyskiv and Voronovytsia, where they provided services to older adults and people with disabilities.

“A social hairdressing salon is not just a place for hairstyling. It is also a space where older adults, people with disabilities, and other vulnerable individuals can receive care and attention,” shared the participants of the initiative.