18 April 2019
L’Oréal programme provides employment pathways for care-experienced youth
L’Oréal New Zealand and the Ministry of Social Development have partnered to evolve the innovative social impact
programme L’Oréal Face Your Future, to include pathways to employment and training for care-experienced young people, in
collaboration with Fostering Kids NZ.
Now in its 11th year, L’Oréal Face Your Future has seen more than 500 care-experienced young people, aged between 16-18
years, graduate from the unique two-day programme with newfound skills and practical experiences, and having undertaken
motivational workshops and goal setting to encourage them to reach for the stars.
The new collaboration between L’Oréal New Zealand and the Ministry of Social Development advances the successful
programme further. It will see a range of leading organisations offering skills and employment pathway programmes,
including access to the Auckland Chamber of Commerce’s CadetMax initiative; The Warehouse’s Red Shirts in the Community
programme; Kiwi Can Do’s residential construction skills programme; New Zealand Fashion Week’s volunteer opportunities
and HITO (Hairdressing Industry Training Organisation) scholarships into barbering, beauty therapy and hairdressing.
Commenting on the evolution of the programme, Tanya Abbott, Group Corporate Communications Manager, L’Oréal New Zealand
said: “Following the 10thanniversary of Face Your Future last year, we were inspired to open up even more possibilities
for these young people so they feel empowered and excited to follow their dreams.
“The journey we take with the Face Your Future participants is incredibly rewarding and at times challenging as we
understand the barriers to training and employment young people can sometimes face.
“At L’Oréal we believe in the power of beauty. The beauty of courage, respect and integrity. These are the values by
which L’Oréal has operated for over a century, and the same values that propel us to support care-experienced young
people in this country.
“With the support of the Ministry of Social Development, this year’s Face Your Future programme provides tangible
ongoing skills training and employment pathways with leading New Zealand organisations to enable the participants to
consider what is next for them, and most importantly, that their destiny is not pre-determined,” said Tanya Abbott.
At L’Oréal Face Your Future, which took place in Auckland on 16-17 April, the attendees got a first-hand look at the
training opportunities they could undertake through the various providers. Following this, they were offered ongoing
coaching and mentorship by VOYCE, the organisation which works to advocate for care-experienced young people in New
Zealand, as they take up the training and employment pathway opportunities.
Amanda Nicolle, Director of Industry Partnerships at the Ministry of Social Development commented: “The Ministry of
Social Development embraces the partnership with L’Oréal and says working alongside Oranga Tamariki on the Face Your
Future programme is a wonderful example of industry and government aligning their services for those that are most
vulnerable in our communities. Young people need to know how significant and valued they are and that together we can
all support them to achieve their goals. After all, today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders.”
Over the last decade, Face Your Future has involved many high-profile New Zealanders including Ron Mark; musicians
Pieter T, Awa, Anika Moa, and PNC; sports people including Dillon Boucher, some of the New Zealand Breakers and former
All Blacks and beauty industry leaders Mana Dave, Rodney Wayne, Richard Kavanagh and Lisa Matson.
“Face Your Future gave me actual confidence and I made really close connections with people. It’s a game changer for us
young people from care, and its heaps of fun and cool makeup! I had a great time,” said Stephanie who attended the
programme in 2018.
The programme is also an annual highlight for L’Oréal New Zealand employees who are highly engaged and immensely proud
of the initiative and the company’s efforts to make a meaningful difference to the futures of many young people.
“For more than a century, L’Oréal has understood that ethical companies that bring positive change to people’s lives,
can bring positive change to the world,” Tanya Abbott added.
With a head office in Ellerslie, distribution centre in Otahuhu and a hairdressing academy in the Auckland CBD, L’Oréal
New Zealand represents 20 of the company’s international beauty brands. The Company employs over 200 people from more
than 20 nationalities in New Zealand. Committed to sustainability, diversity and ethical business practices, L’Oréal
also supports not-for-profit organisations including Look Good Feel Better and Fostering Kids NZ.
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