Malis has a dream of opening her own beauty salon in her home province one day.  At the rate she has been learning, and with her determination and creativity, it won't be long before she can make that dream a reality.

The mother of two did not have an easy life, and ended up seeking refuge and care at Hagar's women's shelter.  Her confidence, self-esteem and hope for the future are returning.  In September 2007, Malis began the Career Pathways training program.  First she learned soft skills like literacy and personal development through creative arts.  Then she got a sense of what kinds of industries and businesses would interest her through various site visits with other program participants. 

Malis settled on esthetics training.  It was a step in the right direction to fulfilling her dream of opening her own beauty salon one day.  Malis is becoming a great esthetician.  As she interns at a local beauty salon she is learning new techniques - washing customers' hair, coloring, and perming hair and is even learning different makeup techniques and how to care for and polish customers' nails.   

With her daily stipend of $1 and the tips she receives in the shop, Malis is investing in beauty products and equipment and keeping them in her security box in her room at the women's shelter.  The Salon manager is also helping her acquire all the equipment she will need to one day open her future shop.  In the evenings, along with another trainee, Malis takes home the hairdryer, curlers and other products so that she can practice on her friends at the shelter.

Malis is particularly interested in Cambodian wedding makeup and hairstyling.  Before Malis is reintegrated back into her home land, she will be placed in a local salon specializing in this area.  Hagar will also provide her with specialized business management training and teach her how to write up a business plan.  Before reintegrating to her homeland and starting her business, Hagar staff will make several site visits with Malis to assess the local market and help her answer some important questions so she can really take ownership of her business and be successful.