Soweto: Cutting Hair for a Cause

https://vimeo.com/26683923]

Maponya Mall is the largest mall in Soweto, home to designer grocery and clothing stores, speciality stores, financial services and, of course, beauty and hair salons, many of which participate in the Hairdressers of the World Against AIDS campaign.

L’Oreal recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Hairdressers Against AIDS program in South Africa. Originally a South Africa initiative by the L’Oreal Foundation in 2001, the program went global in 2005 when it partnered with UNESCO. L’Oreal and UNESCO target hairdressing professionals to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS.

Hairdressers of the World Against AIDS is an educational initiative. The program focusses on teaching hairdressers how to share information about HIV/AID with their customers.

According to a 2010 South African government report, an estimated 5.24 million people are living with HIV in South Africa.