From Unemployment to Entrepreneur in one year - Natia Kilasonia
Natia Kilasonia stands in the door of the Beauty Salon SHARMI – meaning the charm in English – located on Merab Kostava Street in Zugdidi. Alongside three fellow beauticians, the nail technician has found her place in this shared workspace.
To develop her nail technician technical skills, Natia used a training opportunity provided by SOS Children’s Village and in parallel to this training, she joined the ‘Shuttle’ programme in Zugdidi under the EU-funded project "𝐸𝑚𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑐𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝑠𝑜𝑐𝑖𝑒𝑡𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑔𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟-𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑣𝑖𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐺𝑒𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑖𝑎".
To this day, Natia speaks highly not only of the programme itself but also of the coach who has brought profound changes to her life. The Shuttle introduced a structure, improved her time- and stress-management skills, and made her daily routine more fulfilling. “Participating in this programme has changed my life,” she says. “It has given me the self-confidence to believe in my own abilities.” Much of her success she credits to the support of her coaches who offered their help and support along the way, and for that, “I will remain forever grateful.”
The photo shows Natia’s certificates, qualifying her as a nail technician but also to teach others how to do nails.
Just one year ago, none of this seemed imaginable; Natia had no previous job training and was a stay-at-home mum. But when her youngest had turned 2, she decided it was time to choose a new path. Today, Natia is not only a skilled nail designer but also qualified to teach others in nail design.
Natia looking at herself in a mirror that she bought for the studio and decorated with white and red roses.
The four women at Beauty Salon SHARMI have joined forces to share the studio’s rent. Each has contributed something to this shared space. Natia does clients’ nails, while the others specialise in hairstyling and makeup artistry.
While attending the ‘Shuttle’ Natia applied and was selected for a grant from the project which will be used to buy technical equipment, materials and furniture for the studio. Natia’s co-financing – which was an obligation of the grant competition – was a light-grey sofa, which now serves as a cozy waiting area for customers in the studio before their appointments.
The photo shows Natia’s co-finance pay for the studio: a light-grey sofa that now serves as a space where customers can wait before their appointment.
With the help of this grant, she is hoping for increased business and therefore more income in the future. “My dream is to expand my business, so that I can eventually have my own studio, where I can employ other nail and beauty specialists!”
This project is led by the Center for Information and Counseling on Reproductive Health - Tanadgoma for Equality / თანადგომა თანასწორობისთვის - in partnership with Action Against Hunger South Caucasus, Women's Initiatives Supporting Group, The Union of Azerbaijani Women of Georgia / აზერბაიჯანელ ქალთა კავშირი and the National Network of Women With Disabilities შშმ ქალთა ეროვნული ქსელი. This initiative is supported by European Union in Georgia.
Since 2015 Action Against Hunger has been carrying out the Shuttle programme with the aim of increasing the professional and personal skills of participants. By strengthening individual competences, initiative and responsibility, participants become more competitive in the labour market. This process is supported by coaches, using a non-directive, facilitation-based approach.
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