GIVING BACK

AFRICA NEW LIFE DREAM BEAUTY ACADEMY Since 2001, Africa New Life, a Rwandan-founded-and-led nonprofit, has shared the gospel using two hands: the hand of compassion and the hand of evangelism. Their goal is to see lives transformed through meeting basic needs, to give hope for the future for those living in poverty in Rwanda, and to share the freedom and hope found in Christ. One of the ways they bring transformation and hope is through vocational and entrepreneurial training in for women facing vulnerability, poverty. The Dream Beauty Academy, part of the New Life Family Center, provides this training in the area of cosmetology, providing employable skills for women who desire to provide for themselves and their families, and providing childcare for their young children while mothers are in class! A polished look is important in Rwandan culture, and women with discretionary income often spend considerable time at the salon. As a result, salons in Rwanda are plentiful and pay hairstylists well. The Dream Beauty Academy was founded with the intention of empowering women unable to access traditional education with the skills necessary to build a career in the beauty industry. The Dream Beauty Academy is a non-profit cosmetology school in Kigali, Rwanda. It opened in 2012 and is a sister school to the vocational sewing program. Both operate at Africa New Life’s Ministry Center in Kigali, Rwanda. Fifteen women are enrolled annually in hair braiding, cutting, styling, and coloring courses, as well as manicures and pedicures. All women attend weekly devotionals and intensive entrepreneurship training from an accredited trainer. After graduation, all students receive a kit of supplies, and six top students are invited back for an intensive internship. However, all 2019 graduates found gainful employment so easily that none were available for the 2020 internships!