WARDS at the Homestead Child Care Facility for Girls now have the opportunity to pursue training in cosmetology, following the official opening of a cosmetology training centre at the facility last Wednesday.

The centre, which was constructed by the Inner Wheel Club of Kingston at a cost of over $800,000, will offer the wards HEART Trust/NTA Level One training in cosmetology. The students will receive training from professional cosmetologists.

The training centre features state-of-the-art equipment, including, dryers, manicure tables, backwashers and barber chairs.

The cosmetology training centre will also function as a beauty salon to help generate revenue for the child-care centre.

Speaking at the opening, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Culture, Sydney Bartley said the construction of the facility is in keeping with the Government’s aim of providing wards of the state with ample opportunities for personal and professional development.

“We are very keen on ensuring that in spite of the many problems that may have been encountered by these young ladies that we find ways to ensure that they feel loved, they feel like the rest of us, that they understand their human potential to achieve what they can achieve in spite of the odds,” Bartley said.

Interim manager for the Homestead childcare facility, Sophia Walters, thanked all those who supported the construction of the facility.

“The gratitude is overwhelming and it is heartfelt, because our young ladies, for them to be exposed to this level of training and move on to the HEART cosmetology course within itself, it is a stepping stone.