PAPAR: Another group of 11 women has successfully completed their one-week beauty therapy course conducted by the Excellence Skill Academy (ESA) here last Sunday.
The participants were selected to attend the course on January 4-10 under the e-kasih programme which is aimed to eradicate poverty, and sponsored by the Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry, said ESA founder cum director Stella Matuya.
Before this, the first batch of 18 women including a 46 years year old grandmother who aspires to provide beauty treatment for visitors holidaying in Langkayan Island, off Sandakan town has successfully completed the similar course.
The third and final batch of participants has started their trainings Monday but would be put on hold after the Federal Government impose a two-week movement control order (MCO) for Sabah beginning January 13 to stop the rapid increase of COVID-19 cases in the state.
The one-week class will resume after the MCO.
A single mother of four teenage children, Nor Rafidah Awang Anak, 43, when met after the graduation ceremony said before this, she learned about beauty care from the YouTube channel and only gained the real exposure when attending the course.
“My eldest 15 years old daughter already knew how to use make up whereas my youngest one (7 years old) is inclined to be a beautician.
“And both of them has motivated me to take up the beauty therapy course, so that I can earn extra income to support the family,” said Nor Rafidah from Kota Kinabalu and works at the Road Transport Department.
Another single mother, Dayang Attah, 51, from Beluran said she had always wanted to learn make up and finally the e-kasih programme had given her the opportunity to acquire the skill.
“Now I can diversify my business by offering beauty care, besides selling grilled fish and fried chickens in my shop,” she said.
As for Shainim Epin, 40, from Kampung Gaur, Kota Belud said she had gained a new knowledge after attending course which is an additional skill to the traditional massage that she learnt from the Sabah State Human Resource Development Department.
“Now I can provide two-in-one services to my customers-beauty care and massage,” said the mother of three children who is also as a volunteer at the Kota Belud Social Welfare Department in delivering aid to the frontliners. -HS
