From back alley to office, volunteers give free haircuts for those in need

The concept came to Cai Yinzhou in 2013 after he performed a recreation of badminton with a set of overseas employees at a returned alley in the back of his residence.

One of them informed Cai that he had no longer long past for a haircut in six months as he couldn't come up with the money for it. His father had an coincidence and he needed to ship cash home to pay for scientific bills.

The employee’s transferring account inspired Cai to present loose haircuts to folks that could not manage to pay for them.

A 12 months later, Cai and two other volunteers began going for walks Backalley Barbers out of a small alley at the back of Yong He ingesting residence in Geylang.

The initiative turned into reduce out for achievement – it has grown to a roster of 25 barbers, in their Nineteen Twenties to Fifties, inclusive of students, a housewife, a musician, and a assets agent.

Up to now, Cai, now 29, along along with his roving group, has given close to 1,700 unfastened haircuts over ninety seven classes, now not just within the back alley in Geylang but also in nursing homes and migrant employee shelters.

Founder  Cai Yinzhou giving a haircut at Green Avenue Home for the Elderly on 19 January, 2019. (PHOTO: Geylang Adventures)

Founder  Cai Yinzhou giving a haircut at inexperienced street domestic for the elderly on 19 January, 2019. (photo: Geylang Adventures)

For his or her efforts, Backalley Barbers beneath Geylang Adventures become one among 14 ground-up movements and individuals to be inducted into the Singapore Kindness motion’s Kindred Spirit Circle in can also remaining yr.

And 2019 will mark any other main milestone for the initiative. A “convertible” barbershop-office, to open in March, will supply the crew a permanent area to offer loose haircuts day by day.

“We additionally hope to train people from distinctive backgrounds, which include ex-convicts, people with disabilities or at-chance youths…to be barbers to volunteer with us as well as to work complete-time as a barber,” stated Cai.

Volunteers examine simple haircut strategies

Sarah Ong, a volunteer coordinator for Backalley Barbers, has been instrumental in growing the initiative given that joining the group two years in the past.

The 23-yr-vintage Singapore university of Social Sciences student was one in all four volunteer barbers at one such session at Yahoo news Singapore met them within the again alley of Geylang in January.

Ong shared that volunteer barbers, like herself, sign up for a two-day intensive path before they join. They might choose up simple haircut strategies inclusive of “scissors over comb”, “directly cut” and “shaver over comb”.

Each volunteer generally pays $400 to wait the course.

Armed with various haircutting tools, which can be powered by power “donated” by way of close by hawker shops, the volunteers might get all the way down to paintings for 3 hours. To provide a relaxing ambience all through every session, they could sometimes play “oldies” from their music listing.

Volunteer coordinator and barber Sarah Ong at Transient Workers Count Too on 19 August, 2017. (PHOTO: Geylang Adventures)

Volunteer coordinator and barber Sarah Ong at temporary people count Too on 19 August, 2017. (photo: Geylang Adventures)

Now and again, the volunteers might stumble upon language obstacles or awkward situations. At some stage in a consultation at a nursing home, an elderly girl with dementia had “rejected” Ong, and the come upon left her careworn and helpless.

“I sought help from a fellow volunteer…so she assisted me and calmed the auntie down. We sooner or later realised she had phlegm that she desired to spit out from her mouth,” she quipped.

The sessions had been an eye-establishing enjoy for Ong as she learns greater approximately her beneficiaries of different backgrounds.

“we strive and engage them in a verbal exchange due to the fact we without a doubt need to provide extra than only a haircut to them,” brought Ong, who is pursuing a diploma in social paintings. ”except gambling the position of a barber, I additionally play the position of a supporter.”

Ali Mamun, a 30-12 months-old Bangladeshi who has been working in Singapore for over a decade, was one among 25 men who were given their haircuts that day. The site engineer had determined out about the consultation through word of mouth.

“i'm very satisfied with the haircut. I'm very satisfied to locate top human beings (like them). I can actually come once more,” stated Ali.