Beauty business gives them reason to smile

For the 22-year-old Kalpani Khambe, a pair of scissors, hairbrush and a hairdryer have become unlikely tools of emancipation.

Forced to discontinue her studies after class X to help her widowed mother, Khambe only regained her lost confidence after training for three months to turn a beautician, who now works with industry professionals.

Harbouring a dream to become a teacher, Khambe said, “With the money I will make working as a beautician, I will fund my further education for which I have already enrolled in a distance education BA course from the Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU).”

Similarly, Reshma Khan’s father owns a cycle shop and they could never afford luxuries such as cosmetics. “I was fascinated by the actresses on screen and how makeup could transform even the dullest faces into beauties. Having worked and experimented with different shades and styles, I want to open my own salon and beauty school someday,’’ said the 18-year-old after finishing her course.
Hundred others like them have opened the gateway to their dreams by participating in the training offered under the Godrej ‘Saloni’ project, which along with NGO Manav Sadhan Vikas Sanstha(MSVS) helped urban and rural women graduate in the cosmetic industry on Thursday. To give them a sense of achievement and dignity, a special convocation was held for these 100 special women.  ‘’At 32, I attended my first convocation ceremony, with my husband and five-year-old son watching me receive my certificate donning the bachelor’s black robes and the convocation hat,” said Sonal Ansari.
Godrej Saloni was launched at MSVS’s premises at Vakola in Santacruz East. Over 100 women from the locality have benefited from this unique programme spread three months. Uma Prabhu, Trustee, MSVS, said, ‘’These women enrolled for the training battling different realities like family pressure, societal protests and poor financial conditions. It was not easy for them.”