A Tauranga church youth leader is voluntarily teaching barbershop courses at a Tauranga community centre to give young people confidence to launch their careers.
Shanon Ratahi has spent four years planning his barbershop course, where he aimed to provide a space for rangatahi (youth) who cannot afford, are not supported, or do not have the opportunity to obtain an out-of-school qualification.
The courses would be held at Merivale Community Centre and would be an opportunity for his students to expand their skills, gain employment and confidence, and earn 20 credits in NCEA Levels 1 and 2.
The former polytech teacher and owner of Avenue Barbers on Cameron Rd said he felt like this was his purpose – he is offering his expertise at no cost to the centre or the students.
“This is about creating a space for rangatahi youth to get a foundation gateway into a higher-level barbering course.”
The course – which began on October 6 – involved hands-on, practical training, during which students learned how to cut, fade, trim, and style. “But more than that, you’ll gain the respect, hustle and mindset it takes to turn this craft into a career.”
Ratahi said this course would act as a bridge to employment, with that being the focus and desired outcome. “They don’t have to be barbers; they’ve just got to feel like it’s a first step.
“It’s [about] them thinking they can be barbers, but believing they can be anything they want, lawyers, doctors, whatever.”
He said some of his students had their own personal struggles and barriers, such as mental health issues, neurological disorders, family harm and addictions.
Ratahi said even though the new course was full, he already had 14 youth on a waiting list. He planned to hold the course regularly and secure sponsors in future to expand his programmes.
He said he wanted to offer the course to youths, adults, men, and women, and planned to start another course in future for students to become beauticians as well.
Youth who want to get involved in the barbershop courses can contact Merivale Community Centre by phoning 07 578 6450 or email: infor@merivale.org.nz