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SEARCHThe American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) is a network of more than 900 schools dedicated to providing excellence in beauty education, and to champion a message of “Beauty Changes Lives.” Discover how beauty changed the lives of Gill-Tech Academy of Hair Design owner Sheryl Bruemmer, school director Sandra Wagner and a young woman from Ukraine, and how their Dream Project is helping to change the lives of others.
The American Association of Cosmetology Schools (AACS) is a network of
more than 900 schools dedicated to providing excellence in beauty education,
and to champion a message of "Beauty Changes Lives."
Discover how beauty changed the lives of Gill-Tech Academy of Hair Design owner
Sheryl Bruemmer, school director Sandra Wagner and a young woman from
Ukraine, and how their Dream Project is helping to change the lives of others.
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Anya Afanasenko preparing for her role as lead instructor for the Dream Project.
Last year, while on a mission trip to Ukraine, Wisconsin's
Gill-Tech Academy of Hair Design school director
Sandra Wagner learned of the challenges young
women in Ukraine face in terms of learning to support
themselves. Too often, young women find themselves
in compromising and dangerous situations because
they do not have the vocational skills to earn a living
wage. They fall victim to human trafficking and prostitution
when they want to learn and grow to leave their
impoverished lives.
While on the trip, Wagner visited the Hope Center,
a place where orphans in Southern Ukraine can have
a life-changing summer camp experience. Wagner learned that the education director and staff
were working on a mentoring program for
young women to help them with life skills
and self-esteem. Although the program
taught young women to seek a better way
of life, the program did not give women any
means for removing themselves from dangerous
situations once they realized they
wanted more.
Wagner knew this is where Gill-Tech
Academy could make a difference. She
decided to launch the Dream Project, to
provide cosmetology instruction for graduates
of the Hope Center's mentoring program.
The project is fronted by Ukraine's
Anya Afanasenko, who is receiving instruction
through Gill-Tech, with additional support
from Fox Valley Technical College, to
prepare for her role as lead instructor for
the Dream Project.
Afanasenko is staying with Wagner
until she completes her education, and
together they are raising funds for the project,
aimed at 16- to 18-year-old girls who
have completed the Hope Center's mentoring program.
Afanasenko will then travel back to Ukraine and teach
the cosmetology skills to graduates of the mentoring
program.
When other students at Gill-Tech Academy learned
of the program, they supported it with car washes,
bake sales and other planned activities, using the money
earned to purchase equipment for the cosmetology
program in Ukraine.
"The Dream Project has changed the hearts of students
showing them that doing what they love can make
a difference, and in this one situation also change the
lives of young women around the world," Wagner says.
How has beauty changed your life?
Share your thoughts with Editor Alison Shipley ashipley@vancepublishing.com, and your story could appear here!
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