Rainbow Room International heads to the Philippines for Schwarzkopf Shaping Futures.
Suzie McGill, Artistic Director at Rainbow Room International and Schwarzkopf Ambassador, recently spent an unforgettable two weeks in the Philippines with Schwarzkopf for the Shaping Futures charity programme - an initiative that empowers young adults by providing life-changing, hands-on training to disadvantaged young people.
Shaping Futures supports underprivileged young adults aged 16 to 25. As part of her ambassador role with Schwarzkopf, Suzie was honoured to be invited to the Philippines alongside a group of hairdressers for a two-week period, rotating with other educators every two weeks as part of a six-week programme designed to teach young people the basic skills of hairdressing.
During her time in the Philippines, Suzie stayed at the SOS Village in Lipa City - a place where young people from institutes across the Philippines, including seven villages in different cities, are supported through the incredible work of the Shaping Futures charity. This allowed Suzie to fully immerse herself in the experience, gaining a real insight into the lives of the young people and seeing first-hand how supported and cared for they are. Suzie and the team lived in the same bungalow within the SOS Village as the young people, allowing them to spend time together daily and share breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Many of the young people have experienced significant hardship and while staying at the SOS Village, they are provided with weekly counselling sessions alongside wellbeing days every Saturday. They live together as a family unit, with multiple children cared for by one mother figure, while older boys and girls help support the younger children. The village also offers a range of activities, including volleyball and basketball courts, as well as outdoor spaces where the children climb trees to pick fruit.
Over Suzie’s two-week period in the Philippines, she was joined by Kevin Kahan, Owner of Kevin Kahan Salon, as part of the education team. Together, they helped provide the young adults with practical training and confidence, opening doors to real career opportunities within the hair industry. Their aim was not only to inspire creativity, but also to provide a pathway towards independence and long-term success.
Suzie and Kevin began by teaching the young adults the fundamentals of colour, basic cutting skills and an introduction to the world of hairdressing, before moving on to styling techniques and preparing the youngsters for a show in Lipa City. During the show, the young people took to the stage to present their looks to an audience of more than 300 people. The event showcased everything the students had learned over the six-week Shaping Futures programme and featured an incredible production involving professional models, a creative director, make-up artists and clothing stylists. Delegates also took part in singing and dancing performances, creating a real sense of excitement and energy for the audience.
Alongside preparations for the show, Suzie and the team also spent time helping the young people prepare for interviews to secure jobs within the hairdressing industry. None of the youngsters had any previous hairdressing experience, yet their commitment, dedication and talent were incredible - leading many of them to secure employment following their interviews.
Suzie McGill said: “It has been one of the best experiences of my life so far, meeting these young, extremely talented hairdressers and sharing our skills and knowledge with them. A special thank you to Armando Carluccio, who works for Schwarzkopf and is a Shaping Futures Ambassador. He has been involved with the programme for the past four years and spends six weeks at a time in the Philippines. He is truly an inspiration. The young people absolutely love him, and his dedication to education is incredible.”
Below is Suzie’s McGill’s Just Giving link where you can donate to help give these young people greater opportunities in life and for themselves: https://www.justgiving.com/page/suziemcgillphilippines2026
The money raised will go directly towards purchasing essential equipment and tools, ensuring that these aspiring hairdressers have the resources they need to continue learning, practicing and growing even after training has been completed.