Behind every vocational training programme there are skills being developed, experiences being shared and opportunities capable of generating long-term value.
In 2025, Fondazione Marcegaglia, together with 505 – parrucchiere è donna and GSG Academy, launched a vocational training project in the hairdressing sector dedicated to young Rwandan women involved in the training programmes of the Marcegaglia Vocational Training Center (M-VTC).
The initiative began following the ceremony held on 13 October 2025, during which the Association 505 presented Emma Marcegaglia, founding member of the Foundation, with the “La Forza delle Donne” award, a recognition annually assigned to women who have distinguished themselves through their entrepreneurial and social commitment.
It was on this occasion that the professional exchange project took shape, bringing Alice Mutuyimana, instructor of the hairdressing course at the M-VTC centre in Rilima, Rwanda, together with Eliane Umukundwa, one of the trainees selected for her commitment and achievements during the training programme, to Italy for a week of professional training.
A week of professional training in Italy
From 13 to 17 April, at the Gerry Santoro Group Academy in Santa Croce sull’Arno, Alice and Eliane took part in an intensive training programme focused on haircutting, styling and hair management techniques.
The training activities were led by Marisa Savorelli and Dolores Barbieri, members of the 505 – parrucchiere è donna association, while GSG Academy provided professional spaces, equipment and tools necessary for the programme.
During the training, the two participants had the opportunity to explore techniques different from those commonly used in Rwanda, studying topics such as facial and head morphology, personalised haircutting and styling techniques for non-afro hair.
For Alice Mutuyimana, instructor of the M-VTC hairdressing course, the experience represented an important opportunity for both professional and personal growth:
“I was honoured to receive a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: participating in an entire week of training in Italy focused on different hair care and hairstyling techniques.” (…)
“I learned so much: new washing techniques, highly precise haircuts and modern styling tools compared to those we know in our country. It was simply the fulfilment of a dream: learning from the best.” (…)
Training that generates further training
One of the most significant aspects of the project is precisely the possibility of transferring over time the skills acquired during the experience in Italy.
The goal was not simply to offer a temporary training experience, but to allow the new techniques learned to be integrated into the curriculum of the M-VTC hairdressing course in Rwanda, thereby strengthening the quality of the training offered to students.
At the end of the experience, the project partners also donated several professional tools to the hairdressing workshop in Rwanda, including ceramic curling irons, hairdryers, straighteners, professional combs and practice heads used to train on haircutting and styling techniques for different hair types.
These tools are already being used within the workshop, and the first students are benefiting from the “cascade training” provided by Alice following her experience in Italy, one of the project’s main objectives.
The M-VTC hairdressing course currently involves 28 trainees from different sectors of the Bugesera District. To date, the Foundation’s vocational training centre has already trained a total of 163 aspiring hairdressers.
Skills that become opportunities
In the project promoted together with 505 and GSG Academy, technical training is closely connected to a broader theme: professional and personal autonomy.
Acquiring new skills means expanding employment opportunities and strengthening the ability to build a stable professional path over time. This is also reflected in the words of Gerry Santoro, President of ICD Intercoiffure Italia and GSG Academy:
“From 13 to 17 April, the Gerry Santoro Academy had the privilege of welcoming two young talents from Rwanda for a high-level training programme. I strongly wanted our Academy to become a bridge: not only a place to teach technique, but a space capable of transmitting the strength needed to take control of one’s own future.” (…)
“These days were intense, marked by a ‘hunger’ to learn that deeply moved us. Together with the trainers, we taught technique, but in return we received a lesson in hope, dignity and pure joy. They reminded us of the truest essence of our profession: helping people flourish through care and art.” (…)
Marisa Savorelli, trainer and member of the 505 association, also emphasised the professional and human value of the exchange:
“This training experience was deeply rewarding for me. Alice and Eliane demonstrated remarkable professionalism, asking thoughtful and highly relevant questions.” (…)
“The programme proved extraordinarily effective: in just five days I witnessed rapid and profound learning. Passion, determination and talent came together; that rarely happens.” (…)
The value of the project therefore lies not only in the skills acquired during a week of training, but also in the possibility of transferring this knowledge over time, expanding professional opportunities for new generations of young women.
A collaboration between training, business and knowledge sharing
The project stems from the meeting of different organisations that share the same vision of training: not only transmitting technical skills, but also creating concrete opportunities for professional growth and autonomy.
As Adriana Valles, President of 505 – parrucchiere è donna, also pointed out, the project was born from the desire to “bring the experience of 505 beyond our borders”, transforming professional know-how into a concrete opportunity for training and exchange.
505 – parrucchiere è donna is a non-profit entrepreneurial association created to enhance and pass on the know-how developed by professional women in the hairdressing sector throughout their careers, promoting a vision of the profession that combines technical expertise, continuous training and entrepreneurial skills.
GSG Academy operates in advanced vocational training within the hairdressing sector, providing expertise, tools and spaces dedicated to the technical growth of professionals in the field.
Through this collaboration, the project promoted together with Fondazione Marcegaglia has created a concrete professional exchange experience between Italy and Rwanda, with the aim of strengthening over time the quality of the training offered by the M-VTC centre.
Supporting training and professional opportunities
The initiative developed together with 505 – parrucchiere è donna and GSG Academy is part of Fondazione Marcegaglia’s broader commitment to vocational training, economic autonomy and the social inclusion of younger generations.
Through projects in Italy and abroad, the Foundation supports initiatives that transform training into concrete opportunities for personal and professional growth.
Discover all the projects supported by Fondazione Marcegaglia
Collaboration with companies, professionals and training organisations can also contribute to creating programmes capable of generating long-term impact.
Discover how companies can support Fondazione Marcegaglia’s projects
You too can help support training and autonomy pathways by donating your 5×1000 to Fondazione Marcegaglia.