Talentino overseas

Topic(s) addressed

This project examined the topic of health and wellbeing in relation to early school leaving and ways of preventing failure in education, with the aim of improving the lives of students through teaching vocations like hairdressing.

Target group(s)

This project involved the participation of fifth grade student hairdressers.

Methodologies

To encourage the flourishing of the student hairdressers, a focus was placed on creating a welcoming and nurturing environment at the hair salon where they were undertaking their training. 

Students could practise known techniques as well as learn new ones to add to their skillset, as a way of helping them discover a love for hairdressing in a learning environment. As well as basic hairdressing competences, students were encouraged to develop their social skills and attitudes. 

Innovation environment

Participating students went in groups to different hair salons chosen for the project. Training was facilitated in Dutch, English and Spanish. This activity was added to a school leaver course that had already been established in the school in order to open up opportunities in hairdressing.

Teachers’ role

For teachers, expertise in better understanding students’ problems and their ability to deal with them appropriately increased. After the project’s completion, teachers tried to pay attention to the socio-emotional needs and signals communicated by students, and offered them the necessary tools to address issues appropriately. For the participating teachers, they were offered an ideal learning opportunity to work with the project’s target group and took away additional expertise.

Impact and output

The project increased students' motivation to work in hairdressing and taught them how to adapt to a new learning environment. This was incredibly helpful for all students, including those with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

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