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Ten inmates of Tai Lam Centre for Women (TLCW) today (December 20) received professional nail therapist certificates. Watching on were Correctional Services Department (CSD) staff, voluntary beauty tutors and fellow inmates.
They joined the "CICA International Professional Nail Therapist Certificate" and "City and Guilds Nail Technology Advanced Certificate" course held at the TLCW between November and December. They completed an examination on December 8 after receiving training of over 110 hours.
The course is among the programmes designed for a rehabilitation project for prisoners jointly organised by the CSD and the International CICA Association of Esthetics (CIDESCO Section China) (CICA). It started with teaching on the structure of the nail, then training on manicure, hand/ foot massage, gel nail (French/ glitter/ dried flower/ jewellery) and professional burnish skills/ nail art/ extension.
Tutors on the course were provided by CICA.
Speaking at the certificate presentation ceremony, Assistant Commissioner (Rehabilitation) of CSD, Mr Yau Chi-chiu pointed out that getting a job was always one of the problems that rehabilitated offenders needed to solve urgently when reintegrating into society, while vocational training could enhance their employment opportunities.
"A comprehensive rehabilitation project must get the acceptance and support of the community so that it can expand successfully and achieve an ideal effect. The CICA accepts and supports CSD's rehabilitation concept and provides voluntary tutors who repay the community with their professional knowledge. The tutors held professional manicure courses for inmates so that they could support themselves by their own efforts after release and become reintegrated into the society."
Ann, who was admitted to TLCW on a charge of possession of a dangerous drug, is among the 10 graduates of the course. She said she was engaged in jobs of lesser skill, such as waitress and cleaner, before she was imprisoned. As a single mother of two young children, she always thought she could only engage in low-skilled jobs because of her low academic qualifications. But the vocational training course had made her think more positively and had awakened her to the fact that she could also possess a skill if she worked hard. Ann now hopes to join the manicure profession after her release.
Ends/Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:46
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