Case Study: Ises

Ises - Reigning in the Beauty Business
Ises had always dreamed of running her own beauty salon. Shortly after leaving High School, an APRIL Field Officer came to her village offering opportunities for vocational training. She was selected to join the one-month course at Mekar Beauty Salon in Pekanbaru. Ises knew this was where her future lay and so, to increase her experience, at her own expense, she undertook an additional two weeks' training in Teluk Kuantan, the capital of Kuantan Singingi Regency.

Together with her older sister, Ises started offering simple treatments to villagers by operating out of her sister's home using make-up kits, cosmetics and a hair cream bath steamer donated by APRIL. After three months, Ises had a small wooden room built next to the house and, 18 months later, she finally had her own beauty salon.

Ises now earns enough to buy the products she needs - and to shop in Pekanbaru, as well as help her parents.

Ises's Putri Salon, the only beauty salon in Petai Village, attracts more than five customers daily and two to four wedding service packages monthly. She has also stimulated interest among other young women in the village to learn about hairdressing and make-up skills.