Congrats Roseline Sonday! Promoted to Cosmetology Instructor

Cultivating young leaders is a core aspect of our mission. Roseline Sonday was promoted from teacher’s aide to the instructor of the cosmetology department in July. She is an experienced hairstylist and used her time as a teacher’s aide to learn how to apply facials and provide manicures and pedicures.

Her journey started with Uniting Distant Stars in 2014. She was one of four youth who piloted our backpack project from September to December 2014. In the program, students learned how to make backpacks from recycled drinking water sachets. She joined the training team of the 2015 Backpacks for Peace Service Learning Project that trained 20 youth to make the same backpacks. Later that same year, these backpacks were donated and filled with school supplies to give to young school children.

When we secured our training center in 2016, she helped with painting the exterior of the building and refurbishing the facility. She was also part of the recruitment team that same year and helped with finding youth to enroll for the first term starting February 2017. She became the student coordinator and cosmetology teacher’s aide for the 2017/2018 term. She continued both roles this term and recruited the instructor, Felton Waydiyee Fouah. Earlier in July, Felton moved to a different location, and the distance to travel made it impossible for him to continue his work UDS. Felton told Kelvin Fomba, UDS Co-Founder & Director, that Roseline was ready to be an instructor.

From left to right, top to bottom: Roseline sewing backs in 2014. She is modeling the backpack to promote 2015 Backpacks for Peace Project. She is painting the exterior wall in 2016. She is giving a manicure in 2017.