Timor-Leste Trip No: 2 has already happened!

You might recall the first team to head to Dili to partner with Pro Ema went in April.

Following close on its heels, Team 2 headed there in early June. This team had an international flavour, the girls from Perth being joined in Dili by Yessica, a Spanish Hair and Beauty professional from Barcelona who travelled many hours via Doha and Bali to get there. On arrival, she joined Jennifer Quartermaine and Tracey Laing, both experienced trainers in hair, and Sue MacArthur who served as a jack of all trades, specialising in pastoral care for the students!

Lets hear more from Tracey, a salon owner in Perth with Toni & Guy.

Returning from my recent trip to Timor Leste I have so much  to share with you!!  But I will try to keep my story short, based around the very relevant training details.
However, trust me I could talk to you all in person for so much longer about each of the wonderful 17 students that we are  educating, about the incredible welcome we received and the caring, loving environment provided for us by the Pro-Ema family, staff and volunteer house hosts.
But now, straight into the training progress update & results so far...
The students are so very keen to learn from the Empoweraid Trainers.
I could see on my immediate arrival that the students had remembered a lot of the material delivered by Jennifer & the team from the first trip in April. They were clearly so happy for her return & welcomed us new trainers openly.

Each student had their own academic folders up to date & with them at each class & although certain subjects of the theory classes were difficult for them to relate to,they felt comfortable asking questions of us, each writing down the relevant information for future reference.
On a practical/technical level I can already see some strong talent. The students were keen to learn & perfect each technique 100%! Failure seemed not an option for a high percentage of this group. I feel the majority of the current 17 students will complete the course, providing individual personal situations don't prevent that.
The personalities of the students are very individual but all shared these qualities shown to us and each other: caring, respectful, keen, helpful.

I personally cannot wait to return to deliver more of the professional standard  Empoweraid  training.

It really is such a privilege for me to be part of the Empoweraid Team. As we spend time with the students & see how their lives can be improved by sharing our skills, we also are privileged by developing trust with one another, educators and students alike.

I would also like to personally thank each of the sponsors & everyone who donates financially to make these trips possible so I can be part of this very important & successful initiative, Empoweraid.