Juniper
ECOHAIR ACADEMY, based in Bayan Lepas, Penang, is proud to be the first hairdressing centre and academy in Malaysia to establish an educational collaboration with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR). This partnership, formed through UTAR’s Centre for Corporate and Community Development (CCCD), led to the development of the Professional Certificate in Hairdressing Full Course (PCIHFC).The course commenced in June last year at ECOHAIR ACADEMY, with a total of 10 students enrolled. All of them have completed the course and were awarded a Certificate of Completion accredited by CCCD. This interview is with an Orang Asli student, Mazuin Binti Asod who received the Certificate.
Please introduce yourself (name, age and where you’re from).
Mazuin: 19 years old from Kg Akui, Grik, Perak.
How do you feel graduating from UTAR and receiving your professional certificate today? How does it encourage your career?
Mazuin: I feel very happy, like a dream come true as I have achieved success. I am the first Orang Asli to receive this Certificate and to obtain this technical skill. I want a better future for my parents and my village. I hope to have the opportunity to change their hairstyles. I was determined to be a stylist since I was 15 years old. I want to open the first hair salon in my village.
What would you like to say to yourself and to your parents?
Mazuin: Thank you to my parents, especially to my mum who has supported me to achieve this success. I also want to thank my sponsor, a foundation which has supported my studies.
During this course, what challenges have you faced?
Mazuin: For 14 years, I have only known my own mother tongue. Technical skill words are very different and new to me. Some sign language was used during this course.
What would you like to do next?
Mazuin: I’d like to save money to buy a motorbike and a boat as travelling to my village is very expensive (they charge by the weight of the passenger for each boat ride).
